Whirligig Rhapsody

SATB Quartet

Grade 5

Duration 4:30

$25

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Whirligig Rhapsody (Grade 5, 4:30) for saxophone quartet lives up to its title: a playful, swirling work that brims with energy and imagination. At once whimsical and dramatic, the piece shifts effortlessly between tongue-in-cheek humor and moments of genuine lyricism.

The introduction sets the stage with a bold, resonant chord spanning the extreme low and high registers of the saxophone family. From this and other chords, each member of the quartet emerges in turn with a brief cadenza—performed with mock-serious intensity, as if each soloist is delivering the most profound statement imaginable. Yet, beneath this façade, hints of mischief simmer, ready to burst forth. When the final baritone cadenza closes, the ensemble launches into a buoyant, fast-paced section where the true character of the piece takes over.

Midway, the music shifts into a slower, more reflective passage, giving the quartet space to explore the expressive warmth of the saxophone’s voice. But the seriousness doesn’t last forever: soon enough, the playful energy returns, carrying the music through dazzling runs, rhythmic interplay, and colorful textures before coming full circle. The piece ends as it began, with another commanding chord at the outer edges of the saxophone’s range—a reminder of both the instrument’s technical possibilities and its expressive breadth.