Eclogue
Juilliard Saxophone Quartet, Glen Stuplin, Matthew Balensuela, altos; Kenneth Hitchcock, tenor; Joseph Roldan, Jr., baritone, April 6, 1976, Paul Hall, The Juilliard School Composer’s Concert.
May 24, 1978, Allice Tully Hall, Wednesday One O’clock Concert Series: John Ingram, Goerge Lowery, alto saxophones; Kenneth Hitchcock, tenor, Matthew Balensuela, baritone. April 17, 1980, Bell doctoral recital, Paul Hall, Juilliard: Vincent Gnojek, Allen Won, altos, Robert Roman, tenor, Don Haviland, baritone
“Eclogue” for saxophone quartet was written in 1973 and is an abstract instrumental piece for two altos, tenor, and baritone saxophones (string quartet seating) based on Bell’s earlier vocal work “Domination of Black.” “Eclogue” refers to a genre of pastoral poetry. The stereotypical sound of the saxophone, however, seems to bring the work closer to the realm of urban jazz. The piece is a five-part rondo, slow-fast-slow-fast-slow. The last slow section acts as an expansive combination of the previous slow music.
More Chamber Music Works
String Quartet no. 4, Epiphany, Opus 196 1
Clearing the Clouds from Our Minds, Opus 157 3
Serenade No. 4, Walk That Lonesome Valley, Opus 112 9
Serenade No. 2 for alto recorder, cello, and harpsichord, Opus 98 12
Poems for Trumpet and Piano, Opus 85 14
Two Encores: 1, Canon; 2, Lament, Opus 78 no. 2 16
Two Encores: 1, Canon; 2, Lament, Opus 78 No. 1 17
Harmonium: Eight Poems for Brass Quintet after Wallace Stevens, Opus 48 23
Mahler in Blue Light, Opus 43 24
Four Pieces in Familiar Style, Opus 41 25
What Goes Around Comes Around, Opus 38 27
Concerto for Oboe and Five Instruments, Opus 32 29
The Book of Moonlight, Opus 31 30
“Sleep Song” a children’s piece for violin and piano, Opus 18 32
Fantasia on an Imaginary Hymn, Opus 17 33
String Quartet No. 2, Opus 16 34
String Quartet No. 1, Opus 6 35