UK Premiere of Elise Hall – We Thank You!
Monday 30 June 2025 – 730pm
Professor Kyle Horch & RCM Saxophone Orchestra
Royal College of Music
Amaryllis Fleming Concert Hall
London UK
ClICK HERE about RCM Prof. Horch
Sheet Music @ Australian Music Centre:
https://www.australianmusiccentre.com.au/work/beaugeais-katia-elise-hall-we-thank-you
Click here to WATCH the World Premiere in Paris
Official Concert Program Note – Free to use for Concert Programs
Katia writes:
« En hommage à Elise Hall pour tout le chemin qu’elle a tracé pour nous ! »
Elise Hall – We Thank You! (2024) for saxophone ensemble was commissioned by French saxophonist, Nicolas Prost, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of Elise Hall’s death. The world premiere was performed at the Elise Hall International Tribute Concert at the Église Saint-Merry in Paris on 17 November 2024, followed by ten other countries.
This piece is dedicated to Mrs Elise Hall (1853-1924).
When composing Elise Hall – We Thank You! I wanted to create a special atmosphere, where we feel the presence of Elise Hall with us on stage and in the audience.
For this reason, certain motifs from Elise Hall’s well-known commissioned works – Claude Debussy’s Rhapsodie and André Caplet’s Légende – are used as inspiration in the opening and final section.
Elise Hall – We Thank You! features contemporary saxophone techniques, nature sounds and bursts of colour in free, dream-like, atmospheric and unifying ways in honour of Elise Hall.
Bellbirds (birds of Australia), wind and sea wave sounds are created by quarter-tone bird-like trills, ringing bell chords, delicate air vibrato, multiphonics, rippling glissandos and the saxophonists whistling like birds.
Elise Hall not only defied social norms by being one of the first women saxophonists of her time, but she also commissioned new saxophone works by leading composers which have shaped my dual role as saxophonist and composer.
With this piece, I want to thank Elise Hall for the trailblazing woman she was! And for her profound lasting impact on classical saxophone repertoire and the saxophone community of today, Elise Hall – We Thank You!
Katia Beaugeais – Sydney, Australia.
© 17 November 2024.
More info Paris Premiere + Score sample pages here:
https://www.newmusicblock.com/event/international-paris-womens-festival-katia-beaugeais-world-premiere-for-saxophone-orchestra/
