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This study documents the history of the Hollywood Saxophone Quartet and its role in establishing the saxophone quartet as a serious medium for chamber music in the United States. An abbreviated history of saxophone quartets in the United States is provided, including a brief history of the Marcel Mule Saxophone Quartet in France. This ensemble in particular significantly influenced the Hollywood Saxophone Quartet's formation, programming and mission. The history of the Hollywood Saxophone Quartet follows, including its performing, commissioning, and recording activities, as well as biographical information for its members. This introduction is complemented by a discussion of the legacy of the group through its influence on subsequent saxophone ensembles on a national and international scale. Finally, conclusions drawn from this research place the Hollywood Saxophone Quartet in a historical context in the United States.

Thesis (M.M.)--Eastern Illinois University, 2008. / Includes bibliographical references (v. 1, leaf 48).

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My Concerto for Marimba Quartet and Orchestra is designed to be a showcase for marimba ensemble, within the context of a traditional orchestral concerto. It is comprised of three movements. The language of the concerto is at times pluralistic, and at other times homogeneous. The music plays with repetition, simplicity, variability and persistence. The three movements that comprise this concerto are each designed to capitalize on the unique sound of the marimbas in combination with other instruments. In the first movement a small three-note motive (carefully selected to be easy to play rapidly with mallets) is translated from the marimbas to the ensemble to create homogenous textures that develop harmonically using pattern and repetition. The second movement is an exploration of the elasticity of rhythm. It sets the marimbas against still chords in the orchestra. It also employs a heightened level of chromaticism in passages that contrast with diatonic chords that are built from the three- note motive of the first movement. The final movement is an exploration of ensemble virtuosity. Rhythms and harmonic material are passed throughout the soloists and orchestra. This movement is designed to play with repetition and the expectations of a rondo form. Material from the two previous movements is recapped at the end.

My Concerto for Marimba Quartet and Orchestra is designed to be a showcase for marimba ensemble, within the context of a traditional orchestral concerto. It is comprised of three movements. The language of the concerto is at times pluralistic, and at other times homogeneous. The music plays with repetition, simplicity, variability and persistence. The three movements that comprise this concerto are each designed to capitalize on the unique sound of the marimbas in combination with other instruments. In the first movement a small three-note motive (carefully selected to be easy to play rapidly with mallets) is translated from the marimbas to the ensemble to create homogenous textures that develop harmonically using pattern and repetition. The second movement is an exploration of the elasticity of rhythm. It sets the marimbas against still chords in the orchestra. It also employs a heightened level of chromaticism in passages that contrast with diatonic chords that are built from the three- note motive of the first movement. The final movement is an exploration of ensemble virtuosity. Rhythms and harmonic material are passed throughout the soloists and orchestra. This movement is designed to play with repetition and the expectations of a rondo form. Material from the two previous movements is recapped at the end.

The art of fugue, BWV 1080 / Johann Sebastian Bach -- String quartet no. 64 in D major, op. 76 no. 5 / Franz Joseph Haydn -- String quartet no. 10 in E flat major, op. 51 "Slavonic" / Antonin Dvorak -- Pannonia boundless / Aleksandra Vrebalov. / text

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This dissertation provides a performance guide for the two quartets for saxophones by the Chinese composer Guo Yuan (郭元, Guō Yuán) (b. 1965): Eyes Creating Sun-Birds (创造太阳鸟的眼, chuàngzào tàiyángniǎo de yǎn), composed in 2012, and The Eyes Threading Through Sun-Trees (穿越太阳树的眼, chuānyuè tàiyángshù de yǎn), composed in 2021. Guo Yuan is a professor in the Composition Department at the Sichuan Conservatory of Music. He is one of the earliest Chinese composers to have created works for the saxophone. These two pieces were chosen because they demonstrate mature compositional skills and high artistic value, representing a refined level of development of Chinese quartets. Significantly, the composer identifies the two quartets as belonging to a specific series of compositions: both pieces are inspired by the Jinsha (金沙, jīnshā) Site and the Sanxingdui (三星堆, sānxīngduī) Civilization. To facilitate a performance guide, the two works have been analyzed. In particular, an analysis of the method whereby Guo manipulates the timbre and texture through the use of the four parts in the ensemble as well as uses traditional Chinese elements to describe the music should help performers to interpret the desired effect of each compositional technique.