ABOUT THE PERFORMER
Evan Gartner, baritone saxophone
Evan Gartner is a second year graduate student at West Chester University. Before pursing his master’s degree, he received his Bachelor of Music Education also from West Chester University. For the past six years, he has studied saxophone with Professor Jonathan Ragonese – an accomplished saxophonist, Director of Jazz Studies, and Assistant Professor of Saxophone at West Chester University.
Throughout his academic career, Evan has played with many of the ensembles West Chester University has to offer. In The West Chester University Criterions Jazz Ensemble, Evan had the opportunity to meet and share the stage with world renowned musicians such as David Liebman, Nicholas Payton, Tim Warfield, and Bob Curnow. Under the direction of Dr. Andrew Yozviak, Evan is currently the baritone saxophone player for the West Chester University Wind Ensemble, the university’s premiere wind band. With the Wind Ensemble, he is featured on several CDs released on Mark Custom Records such as Ribbons, and Games Throughout his time in the Wind Ensemble, Evan was also able to work under the direction of guest artists such as Kelijah Dunton and Viet Cuong. At the end of his undergraduate career, Evan travelled with the Wind Ensemble to Germany, where he was able to perform in various cities across the country. Evan has played with various saxophone quartets and has worked to form a quartet comprised of graduate saxophone players across the state of Pennsylvania.
Currently, Evan is the Wind Band Graduate assistant, where he works closely with Dr. Andrew Yozviak, Dr. Hannah Morrison, and Dr. Adam Gumble, to ensure productivity and enjoyment in music making for students involved with the university’s wind ensemble, wind symphony, concert band, and both athletic bands.
QUARTET#1INTHREEMOVEMENTS(1995)
Bob Mintzer’s Quartet #1 In Three Movements was commissioned by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet, from Manchester, in The United Kingdom. This piece features many interjections from each saxophone in the first movement of the quartet, along with a baritone saxophone cadenza in the second movement. The cadenza in movement two was originally written for alto saxophone, but will be played on baritone saxophone to showcase the performer. Bob Mintzer uses his talent and backgrounds with many different styles of music to give each movement in this piece its own character.
BLACK(2008)
Marc Mellits describes his piece, Black, as “five minutes of rapid firing notes combining and merging into one, black (w)hole.” These rapid firing notes between players creates a hocket, which is a technique where two or more lines of music come together to create one melodic line. Black accomplishes this effect through use of its tightly woven rhythms exchanged between two baritone saxophonists. As the patterns change throughout the piece, the two performers constantly work together to push the momentum of the piece as new ideas are introduced.
QUATOURPOURSAXOPHONES(1964)
Commissioned by the French Parliament, Alfred Desenclos wrote Quatour pour Saxophones for the Marcel Mule Quartet. Following World War II, French composers found themselves interested in creating new music that had a different sound than what had been previously heard. Quatour pour Saxophones finds itself in the middle of new styles and old, as the piece features jazz-inspired harmonies and rhythms while also keeping to the traditional sonata form in the first movement. Audrey Cupples, saxophonist for “The President’s Own” United States Marine Band describes Quatour pour Saxophones as “one of the finest saxophone quartets written.”
SUMMA(1977)
Originally composed as a choral work, Arvo Pärt’s Summa is typically performed in a vocal quartet setting However, for this performance, two quartets – a saxophone quartet, and a string quartet – are used. This offers a different listening experience that features different colors and sounds that a traditional quartet could not offer. Throughout the piece the listener will hear different combinations of possible quartets, such as the alto saxophone playing in tandem with the viola, eventually coming together as an octet at the end of the piece. This idea was inspired by the Artvark Saxophone Quartet & Goya Quartet Amsterdam, who took a similar approach to the piece.
“MEMORY”FROMNEPOMUK’SDANCES(2006)
Originally composed for the Ethel String Quartet – a New York based string quartet, “Memory” from Nepomuk’s Dances is filled with energetic dance rhythms, and textures that are often interweaving throughout the quartet. Brazilian pianist and composer Marcelo Zarvos wrote “Memory” as the third movement in Nepomuk’s Dances. The first and second movements are titled “Arrival” and “Nepomuk’s Dances”, respectively. Having been originally written for string quartet, saxophonists have to adapt to the many string techniques that would have been performed throughout the piece. A technique that is used most often is the use of bariolage, in which a string player will rapidly switch strings, often relying on the lowest to function as a bass drone.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Evan would like to express his deepest appreciation to his family and friends for always supporting his musical endeavors. Additionally, his academic success would not have been possible without his professors Jonathan Ragonese, Dr. Gumble, Dr. Morrison, Dr. Yozviak, and Dr. Martin. Evan would also like to thank his roommates, and his graduate assistant partner, Jacob Springer for their deeply valued friendship.