CRYSTAL RECORDS – Saxophone Recordings

All of our CDs are available for ordering on-line, through our associate CCNow.  If the item says ORDER NOW click on those words and go to our secure shopping cart.  You are still able to order via e-mail, info@crystalrecords.com., or place your order by phone at 360-834-7022 or on our 24-hour fax line at 360-834-9680.  See information on our main page.

Our 4 for 3 offer is available on-line. When you order 4 CDs, what you need to do is place the order for the first 3 CDs using the Order Now buttons. Before checking out you will be given an opportunity to write a comment to go with your order.   In the "other notes or instructions" space, write FREE CD with the catalog number of the one you want. In that way, you will receive the 4 CDs and only be charged for 3.

 

CD353: SEXTOUR à VENT. Harvey Pittel, Alto Saxophone; Westwood Wind Quintet.

Darius Milhaud: Scaramouche for Saxophone and Woodwind Quintet; Bernhard Heiden: Intrada for Saxophone and Woodwind Quintet; Paul Hindemith: Concert Piece for Two Saxophones (with Sunil Gadgil, saxophone); Pierre Max Dubois: Sinfonia da Camera (for Saxophone and Woodwind Quintet); Jacques Ibert: Trois Pièces Brèves (first movement) – for Woodwind Quintet; J.S. Bach: Fugue from the Well Tempered Clavier (arr. for Woodwind Trio); Gioacchino Rossini: Quartet no. 1 in F (first movement) – for Flute, Clarinet, Horn, and Bassoon; Paul De Wailly: Aubade for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet; Adrien Barthe: Passacaille for Woodwind Quintet; Malcolm Arnold: Divertimento for Flute, Oboe, and Clarinet (first movement); Rimsky-Korsakov: Flight of the Bumble-Bee (arr. for Woodwind Quintet); Leo Sowerby: Pop Goes the Weasel (adapted by the Westwood Wind Quintet) “Harvey Pittel [is a] master of his instrument…the most beautiful and pure tone I have ever heard from a saxophone.” New York Times.
The Westwood Wind  Quintet is “probably the best group of this kind anywhere.” New Orleans Courier “Delightful music, winningly played.” Fanfare Magazine
UPC 009414735324   ORDER NOW       Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
Milhaud: Scaramouche  I: Vif    II: Modéré    III: Brazileira     Heiden:  Intrada     Hindemith: Concert Piece for Two Saxophones  I: Lebhaft   II: Mässig langsam   III: Lebhaft     Dubois: Sinfonia da Camera  I: Entrée   II: Gigue en rondeau   III: Variations     Ibert:   Trois Pièces Brèves (first mvmt)     Bach/arr. Atkins:  Fugue     Rossini:  Quartet no.1 in F (first mvmt)     Wailly:  Aubade     Barthe:  Passacaille     Arnold:  Divertimento (first mvmt)      Rimsky-Korsakov:  Flight of the Bumble-Bee Sowerby:  Pop Goes the Weasel   (to return to this page after listening to samples, please use your browser back button)

CD358: PAS DE TROIS. Kenneth Tse, Saxophone, Benjamin Coelho, Bassoon, Alan Huckleberry, Piano. Bernard Van Beurden: Pas de trois; Jindrich Feld: Trio Giocoso; David Froom: Arirang Variations; Perry Goldstein: Noir; Don Freund: Louder than Words

Saxophone, Bassoon, and Piano is an unusual combination that creates an exciting and vibrant sound. The works on this CD represent some of the finest writing for this combination, and the performers are three of the best practioners of their art. They are on the faculty at the University of Iowa and perform internationally. UPC 009414735829    ORDER NOW    Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Van Beurden: Pas de trois:  Ouverture   Pastorale   Tarantella   Feld: Trio Giocoso:  Allegro   Andante   Allegro vivo    Froom:  Arirang Variations    Goldstein:  Noir    Freund:  Louder than Words:  Part I   Part II

CD359: STELLAR SAXES. Kenneth Tse and Nobuya Sugawa, Saxophones.

Paul Hindemith: Concert Piece for two alto saxophones; Jun Nagao: Paganini Lost, for two alto saxophones and piano, and Lovers on the Celestial Sphere, for soprano and tenor saxophones and piano; Masanori Katoh, Oriental, for soprano and alto saxophones; Guy Lacour, Sute en Duo, for two alto saxophones; Victor Morosco, Contemporary Etudes in Duet Form, for two alto saxophones. With Kazuo Murakami, piano.

            Nobuya Sugawa and Kenneth Tse are two of the best-known saxophonists in the world. Specializing in premiere performances, they present on this CD some of the most exciting new works for two saxophones. This is Kenneth Tse’s fifth CD on Crystal Records. All have been greeted with praise from both critics and consumers. “Tse plays with seductive tonal beauty.” (American Record Guide)  “If Fanfare awarded grades to recordings, this would rate A+” (Fanfare, writing about Tse’s CD658 on Crystal) UPC 009414735928.  ORDER NOW       Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown. _(r)Nagao: Paganini Lost   Hindemith: Konzertstucke  Lebhaft   Massig langsam, Lebhaft    Katoh: Oriental    Lacour: Suite en duo  Allegro   Aria   Petite Fugue   Largo - Scherzetto    Nagao: Lovers on the Celestial Sphere    Morosco: Contemporary Etudes  Etude 1   Etude 2   Etude 4

CD651: LAURA HUNTER, SAXOPHONE.  Brian Connelly, Piano and DX7 Synthesizer. William Bolcom: Lilith; Paul Cooper: Four Impromptus; Rodney Rogers: The Nature of This Whirling Wheel;  Steven Galante: Shu Gath Manna; Arthur Gottschalk: Jeu de Chat. Bolcom is the winner of the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Music. Hunter is "a splendid artist." Audio. “...beautiful tone.” Wisconsin Journal
UPC 009414765123  ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Rogers: Whirling Wheel   Bolcom Lilith:  Mvt 1(Female Demon)   Mvt 2 (Succuba)   Mvt 3 (Will-O-The-Wisp)   Mvt 4 (Child Stealer)   Mvt 5 (The Night Dance)     Cooper: Four Impromptus  Presto   Andante   Animato   Largo    Gottschalk: Jeu de Chat    Galante: Shu Gath Manna  Prologue   Silicon Dance   Threnody   Regeneration

 

CD652: AN AMERICAN TRIBUTE TO SIGURD RASCHER. Lawrence Gwozdz, Alto Saxophone. William Grant Still: Romance; Karel Husa: Elegie et Rondeau; Henry Cowell: Air and Scherzo; Carl Wirth: Jepthah and Beyond These Hills; Armond Russell: Particles; John David Lamb: Three Antique Dances; John Worley: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano. Lois Leventhal & David Evenson, piano; Michael Reimer, soprano saxophone. "Gwozdz is an extraordinary saxophonist...a whole world of composers writing sublime music...buy this disc at once...I guarantee you will enjoy it."  Fanfare. 
UPC 009414765222  ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Wirth Jepthah:  Mvt 1 (Invocation)  Mvt 2 (Dance)    Russell Particles:  Mvt 1 (Allegro)   Mvt 2 (Lento)   Mvt 3 (Allegro moderato)   Mvt 4 (Andante)   Mvt 5 (Allegro)     Cowell:  Air   Scherzo     Still: Romance     Lamb: Three Antique Dances  Mvt 1   Mvt 2   Mvt 3     Husa: Elegie   Rondeau     Worley: Sonata  Mvt 1   Mvt 2   Mvt 3     Wirth: Beyond These Hills

 

CD653: DUO ONE, POINT FIVE - Bill Perconti, Alto Saxophone. Alojzy Thomys: Miniatury w Roznych Stylach (sax & piano); Ryo Noda: Improvisation III (sax solo); Alan Hovhaness: Suite (sax and guitar); Gerard Massias: Suite Monodique (sax solo); Jerome Grant: Duo 1 Point 5 (sax and tape); Eugene Bozza: Improvisation et Caprice (sax solo); George Gershwin: Three Quarter Blues and Promenade (arr. Perconti for sax & piano). "...creamy smooth tone." American Record Guide. "Another first-class woodwind recital from the leading label in the field."  Fanfare. UPC 009414765321  ORDER NOW

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Thomys, Miniatury:  Mvt 1(Allegro)   Mvt 2(Andante)   Mvt 3(Allegretto)   Mvt 4(Andante)   Mvt 5(Vivo Scherzando)   Mvt 6   Mvt 7   Mvt 8   Mvt 9   Mvt 10     Noda:  Improvisation No. 3     Hovhaness: Suite  Mvt 1   Mvt 2   Mvt 3     Massias: Suite Monodique  Mvt 1   Mvt 2   Mvt 3   Mvt 4   Mvt 5     Grant: Duo 1 Point 5     Bozza:  Improvisation et Caprice     Gershwin:  Three-Quarter Blues     Promenade

CD654: BACH AND NOODLES. Harvey Pittel, Saxophone.  New Classics Suite: Sonata 2 by J.S. Bach (arr. John Rodby) interspersed w/ Johnny Mercer, Richard Rodgers, David Gates. Plus light classics including Flight of the Bumble-Bee, Oodles of Noodles, Perpetual Motion, Scaramouche, Vocalise, Saxophobia, Caprice (Bozza), Caprice (Bonneau), and the Acrostic Song from Final Alice (Del Tredici). Pittel, saxophone, with Gabor Rejto, cello; and Levering Rothfuss and Anton Nell, piano. Harvey Pittel has been saxophonist with the New York Philharmonic, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic, etc. and is a prominent recitalist.   UPC 009414765420  ORDER NOW    Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
New Classics Suite:  Mvt 1 (Allegro-Autumn Leaves)   Mvt 2 (Siciliano-My Favorite Things)   Mvt 3 (Allegro-If)   Rimsky-Korsakoff: Flight of the Bumblebee     Rachmaninoff: Vocalise     Dorsey:  Ooodles of Noodles     Demersseman: Carnival of Venice     Del Tredici: Final Alice  Acrostic Song     Wiedoeft: Saxophobia     Valse Yvonee     Bozza: Lied, Badinage, and Caprice     Bonneau: Caprice     Paganini: Moto Perpetuo     Milhaud: Scaramouche  Brooms(Russian trad.): Vif   Modere   Brazileira


CD655: MOVING ALONG with Harvey Pittel, Saxophone. Ingolf Dahl: Concerto for Alto Saxophone; Jacques Ibert: Concertino da Camera; Paul Creston: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Paule Maurice: Tableaux de Provence; Tomasi Albinoni: Concerto "Saint Marc"; Rachmaninoff: Vocalise. All with Jeff Helmer, piano. "Harvey Pittel, a master of his instrument." New York Times. 
UPC  009414765529  ORDER NOW    Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Creston Sonata:  Mvt 1 (With Vigor)  Mvt 2 (With Tranqility)  Mvt 3 (With Gaiety)    Dahl Concerto:  Mvt 1 (Recitative)  Mvt 2 (Passacaglia)    Rachmaninoff: Vocalise     Ibert: Concertino  Mvt 1   Mvt 2   Mvt 3     Maurice: Tableaux de Provence  Farandole   Chanson pour ma Mie   La Bohemienne   Des Alyscamps   Le Cabridan     Albinoni: Concerto  Grave   Allegro   Andante   Allegro


CD656: SPARKLING SAX. Kenneth Tse, Saxophone. With Kari Miller, Piano. JIndrich Feld: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Bernhard Heiden: Solo for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Victor Morosco: Blue Caprice; Walter Kaufmann: Meditation; Robert Muczynski: Sonata; Warren Benson: Aeolian Song; Leonard Bernstein: West Side Story Medley.
"Kenneth Tse is a uniquely talented saxophonist endowed with a facile technique and a tone of great beauty, plus the ability to understand and interpret a wide range of musical styles." Eugene Rousseau, Eminent saxophone soloist & Professor of Saxophone, Indiana University     UPC 009414765628  ORDER NOW    Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Feld Sonata:  Mvt 1(Allegro Ritmico)  Mvt 2(Adagio)  Mvt 3 (Allegro Vivo)  Mvt 4 (Allegro con Fuoco)    Kaufmann: Meditation   Muczynski: Sonata  Mvt 1   Mvt 2     Benson: Aeolian Song     Heiden: Solo     Morosco: Blue Caprice     Bernstein(arr. Rousseau): West Side Story medley


CD657: AN AMERICAN EXHIBITION.  Kenneth Tse, Saxophone; Mami Nagai, Piano. David DeBoor Canfield: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano; John Cheetham: Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Libby Larsen: Holy Roller; William Grant Still: Romance; Leonard Mark Lewis: As in Stained Light; Jay Vosk: Thaw; Walter Hartley: Sonata for Baritone Saxophone and Piano.
     Kenneth Tse was formerly Instructor at Indiana University and professor at University of Missouri. He is presently at the University of Iowa. About his first CD on Crystal, CD656, American Record Guide wrote "Kenneth Tse plays the saxophone with seductive tonal beauty." UPC 009414765727 ORDER NOW  Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Canfield Sonata:  Mvt 1(Grazioso)  Mvt 2(Molto vivo)  Mvt 3(Ad libitum)  Mvt 4(Moto perpetuo)     Cheetham Sonata:  Mvt 1(Giocoso)  Mvt 2(Lento)  Mvt 3(Con moto)     Larsen: Holy Roller     Still: Romance   Lewis: As In Stained Light   Vosk: Thaw     Hartley Sonata:  Mvt 1(Andante)  Mvt 2(Adagio)  Mvt 3Allegro)

 

CD658: LYRIC SOPRANO.  Kenneth Tse, Soprano Saxophone. Alan Huckleberry, Piano.   Antonino Pasculli: Le Api; Gabriel Faure: Trois Romances sans Paroles; Jerôme Naulais: Sax de Voyage; Isaac Albeniz: Tango Op. 165, No. 2; Denis Bedard: Fantaisie; John C. Worley: Six Dances; Astor Piazzolla: L'Histoire du Tango; Leonard Mark Lewis: Prelude (for Kenneth Tse). Kenneth Tse is currently the professor of saxophone at the University of Iowa. "Tse is the caliber of instrumentalist whose very sound is captivating." Fanfare  "Tse gives a bravado, fleet-fingered performance... seduces enchantingly... is utterly beguiling... a richly enjoyable recital." International Record Review UPC 009414765826 ORDER NOW    Click here for CD cover photo and details.

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Pasculli: Le Api    Faure Trois Romances Mvmt 1  Mvmt 2  Mvmt 3     Naulais: Sax de Voyage    Albeniz: Tango     Bedard: Fantaisie     Worley: Six Dances  Prelude   Allemande   Sarabande   Gavotte   Courante   Gigue     Piazzolla: L'Histoire du Tango  Bordel   Cafe   Night-club   Concert d'aujourd'hui     Lewis: Prelude

 

CD659: SAXOPHONE VOICES FROM FIVE COUNTRIES, featuring Keith R. Young, Soprano, Alto, and Tenor Saxophone. Heitor Villa Lobos: Fantasia; Astor Piazzolla: Tango; Rudy Wiedoeft: Saxophobia; Ron Nelson: Danza Capriccio; Charles Koechlin: Andante & Le Reps de Tityre; Paul Bonneau: Caprice en Forme de Valse; Elliot Del Borgo: Canto; Toshiyuki & Naomi Honda: Four Jazz Etudes. Keith R. Young was principal saxophonist with the U.S. Air Force Band in Washington, D.C. until 1998. Since then he has been an international soloist and Professor of Music at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. This collection contains some of the best recital literature for the saxophone, featuring music of composers from the U.S.A., Japan, France, Brazil, and Argentina.
UPC 009414765925     ORDER NOW  Click here for CD cover photo and details

Sound samples (uses RealPlayer) Click on the link to hear up to one minute of the movement shown.
Nelson: Danza Capriccio    Koechlin:  Andante    Bonneau:  Caprice en Forme de Valse   Del Borgo:  Canto    Villa-Lobos:  Fantasia  Anim_(c)   Lent   Tr_(r)s anim_(c)    Koechlin:  Le Repos de Tityre     Honda:  Four Jazz Etudes   Greeting    Fake    Interval    Session    Piazzolla:  Tango    Wiedoeft:  Saxophobia

 

CD780: SAXOPHONE PICTURES, Kenneth Tse, Saxophone.
Mussorgsky, Pictures at an Exhibition (arranged by David DeBoor Canfield); Kenneth Tse, Soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones (one player, no overdubs); Alan Huckleberry, piano.
David DeBoor Canfield: Trio after Brahms in G minor; Kenneth Tse, alto saxophone; Rachel Patrick, violin; Lin-Yu Wang, piano.
Erwin Dressel: Partita for Alto Saxophone and Piano; Kenneth Tse, alto saxophone; Lin-Yu Wang, piano.

      Kenneth Tse, widely recognized as one of the leading classical saxophonists in the world, burst on the scene in 1996 as the winner of the prestigious New York Artists International Award, which resulted in an acclaimed debut recital at Carnegie Hall and being acclaimed as “a young virtuoso” by the New York Times. Tse has been an active recording artist since his first CD for Crystal Records at age 23. He has also been a frequent soloist on five continents. There are now a total of six Crystal CDs as well as eight others on other labels. Tse is currently Professor of Saxophone at the University of Iowa, President-Elect of the North American Saxophone Alliance, and is serving his second term as Vice-President of the International Saxophone Committee. When Kenneth Tse, alternating between the four saxophones, gave the world premiere performance of this arrangement of Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition at the 2012 World Saxophone Congress in St. Andrews, Scotland, he and the piece received rave notice. UPC 009414778024.   ORDER NOW                 Click here for more Kenneth Tse CDs.

Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
(to return to this page after listening to samples, please use your browser back button)
Canfield  Trio after Brahms in G Minor:  Adagio con poco moto-Allegro risoluto   Adagio   Molto vivo   Presto possibile    Dressel  Partita: Prélude – Allemande   Canzone   Courante   Pavane   Gigue    Mussorgsky  Pictures at an Exhibition:  Promenade  Gnomus   Promenade II   Il Vecchio Castello   Promenade III   Tuilleries   Promenade IV   Bydło   Samuel Goldenberg and Schmuyle   Promenade V   Limoges   Catacombae (Sepulcrum Romanum)   Con mortuis in lingua mortua   The Hut on Fowl's Legs (Baba-Yaga)   The Great Gate of Kiev

 

CD781 — KENNETH TSE, Saxophone, with the MI-BÉMOL Saxophone Ensemble. UPC 009414778123

Jules Demersseman, Carnival of Venice; Henri Tomasi, Ballade; Richard Dudas, Fantasia on Lyun Joon Kim’s Elegy; Luis Alarcón, Concertango, 3rd mvt: fugue; Alain Crépin, Saxflight; Grigorij Markovich, Concerto Capriccio on Themes of Paganini; Darius Milhaud, Scaramouche; Giacomo Puccini, Nessun Dorma from Turandot.

A truly unusual and exciting album. The sounds of all the saxophones is almost unbelievable in its beauty. At times it is like listening to one of the best large symphony orchestras. “This release is, in a word, stunning. [This is] a program of winners, with broad appeal. It doesn’t get much better than this: fun music, and a stellar ensemble and soloist.” (Fanfare Magazine)     ORDER NOW     

            Kenneth Tse, with 7 solo CDs on Crystal, is one of the world’s leading classical saxophonists. Born in Hong Kong, he won the New York Artists International Award in 1996 and performed an acclaimed debut recital at Carnegie Hall, after which he was hailed as “a young virtuoso.” He since has been a frequent soloist on five continents. His CDs have been uniformly acclaimed by critics: “elegant tone...sheer virtuosity” (American Record Guide). “phenomenal saxophonist with incredible technical skills and interpretive skills. His tone is absolutely lovely.” (Saxophone Journal). “One of the world’s very finest saxophonists...astounding technical skill...virtuosity and golden tone.” (Fanfare) He currently teaches at the University of Iowa.

            The Mi-Bémol Saxophone Ensemble, founded in 1989 in Japan, has established itself as probably the world’s premiere professional saxophone ensemble. Under the direction of Masahiro Maeda, the group has more than 20 saxophones, including alto, tenor, baritone, bass saxophone, and tubax. With its truly amazing sound, the ensemble performs regularly in Europe, Asia, and North America, including Carnegie Hall. “Mi-Bémol has become well-known for its extraordinary musicianship and the distinctively rich, articulate orchestral sound it produces.”
(Fanfare)

CD781 Sound samples (mp3 files) Click on the link to hear up to 35 seconds of the movement shown.
 (to return to this page after listening to samples, please use your browser back button)
Demersseman   Carnival of Venice    Tomasi   Ballade    Dudas   Fantasia on Lyun Joon Kim’s Elegy    Alarcón   Concertango,3rd mvt: Fugue    Crépin   Saxflight    Kalinkovich   Concerto Capriccio on Themes of Paganini    Milhaud  Scaramouche   Vif   Modéré   Brazileira    Puccini   Nessun Dorma from Turandot

 

 

Cassettes

C157:  HARVEY PITTEL TRIO.    The New Classics Suite, by Bach/Rodby;   Creston:  Sonata for Saxophone;   Villa-Lobos:  Bachianas Brasileiras;  Duke Ellington medley.    Harvey Pittel, saxophone;  Julian Fifer, cello;  Levering Rothfuss, piano.   Cassette only   009414715746 ORDER NOW

C353:  SEXTUOR A VENT.   Harvey Pittel, Saxophone, with Westwood Wind Quintet.   Darius Milhaud:  Scaramouche;  Bernhard Heiden:  Intrada;  Pierre Max Dubois:  Sinfonia da Camera. See also CD353   Cassette  009414735348  ORDER NOW

C500:  MUSIC OF JOHN RODBY.   HARVEY PITTEL, Saxophone.  Saxophone Concerto,   Festivals,  & Variations for Orchestra.     Elgar Howarth conducting the London Sinfonietta.   Cassette only   009414750044 ORDER NOW

C651:  LAURA HUNTER, SAXOPHONE. Brian Connelly, Piano & Synthesizer.  William Bolcom: Lilith;  Paul Cooper: Four Impromptus;  Rodney Rogers: Nature of This Whirling Wheel;  Steven Galante: Shu Gath Manna;  Arthur Gottschalk: Jeu de Chat.    009414765147  SOLD OUT see also  CD651

COMPACT DISCS: $16.95, CASSETTES: $10.98
U.S. (CD) shipping is FREE. Canada (CD) shipping US$7 per order. Other countries US$14 per order. For cassette shipping, see cassette page.
Visa, MasterCard, U.S. check accepted.

Order by email, phone, fax, or mail.

Crystal Records, 28818 NE Hancock Rd, Camas, WA 98607
phone 360-834-7022,  fax 360-834-9680
email:  order@crystalrecords.com

Return to main Crystal Records page.

Flute recordings   Oboe recordings   Clarinet recordings    Bassoon recordings    Woodwind Ensemble recordings