Eugène Bozza: Aria
Context
Although a trained violinist himself, it was his incredible archive of works for wind instruments that has kept Eugène Bozza’s flame alive today. Aria, which was originally composed for alto saxophone and piano, has remained one of the composer’s most-performed solo works. Composed in 1936, Aria was dedicated to the famous French saxophonist, Marcel Mule.
The Music
This lyrical piece opens quietly with a piano introduction before the rich sounds of the alto saxophone enter the mix. Relaxed in style, Aria represents Bozza’s more Romantic style, highlighting the gentle sound of the saxophone. Known for being difficult for phrasing and breathing, Aria certainly tests the stamina of a wind player. Bozza does not include too many rests for the soloists so the melodies are presented in a constant flow. This, paired with the vibrato needed to create the rich timbre from the instrument makes this a technically and musically challenging piece of music. After the main melody of Aria has been explored, the piece comes to its conclusion with a final chord between the two instruments.
Ⓒ Alex Burns
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