Solitary Poems for Soprano Saxophone

Solitary Poem #

1-14

Solitary Poems #1-14 live Concert in Kungsholms Kyrka 20/11-2021

Composed by:

Fredrik Högberg, Fredrik Sixten, Steve Dobrogosz, Britta Byström, John Corigliano, Kjell Perder, Andrea Tarrodi, Stella Sung, Ann-Sofi Söderqvist, Johan Hammerth, Marie Samuelsson, Svante Henryson, Thomas Simaku, Anders Hillborg

Swedish soprano saxophonist Anders Paulsson has since 1987 had an international career as a soloist with orchestras and choirs.

The Covid-19 Pandemic put everything on hold but Anders decided to follow American violinist Jennifer Koh's initiative"Alone Together" with his "Solitary Poems for Soprano Saxophone".

The project has attracted 30 international composers to write for him and this Concert presents the first 14 for a live audience in Kungsholms Kyrka, Stockholm Sweden.

Fredrik Högberg “Orphan Elephant” 3:03‍

Fredrik Sixten “Sarabande” 7:56‍

Steve Dobrogosz “Gracenotes” 14:56‍

Britta Byström “Later the Same Day”* 19:41 *duet with Theo Hillborg

John Corigliano “And the People Stayed Home” 31:01‍

Kjell Perder “How Dare You?” 38:02‍

Andrea Tarrodi “...of days gone by...” 47:27‍

Stella Sung “Soliloquy” 53:07‍

Ann-Sofi Söderqvist “Solitude” 58:20‍

Johan Hammerth “Lontano” 1:05:26‍

Marie Samuelsson “Piece to Anders from Marie” 1:11:06‍

Svante Henryson “Crux” 1:20:16‍

Thomas Simaku “Soliloquy VI” 1:25:02‍

Anders Hillborg “Shared Solitude” 1:44:47* duet with Theo Hillborg

Meet the composer interviews by Sharon Jåma

Video art by Markus Heggestad & Nalle Rösell

Sound engineer by Stellan Särlefalk | Gillian Lissollas,

Live stream by Nalle Rösell Performance Solutions

The Swedish record company BIS will release a Super Audio CD with their selection in December 2023.

Solitary Poem #

23

Solitary Poems #15-31 live Concert in Sofia Church, December 3, 2022

Composed by:

Victoria Borisova-Ollas, Anders Nilsson, Bjørn Kruse, Jörgen Dafgård, Staffan Storm, Anders Hillborg, Anna-Lena Laurin, Paula af Malmborg Ward, Bo Hansson, Ad Wammes, Jonathan Sheffer, Johan Hugosson, Thomas Lindahl, Thomas Persson, Pelle Olofson, Dror Feiler, Christian Lindberg

Solitary Poem #

21

Prayer

Composed by:

Pelle Olofson

Solitary Poem #

20

amber soliloquy

Composed by:

Bjørn Kruse

Solitary Poem #

19

Iridescence

Composed by:

Jörgen Dafgård

Solitary Poem #

18

Short/Suite

Composed by:

Jonathan Sheffer

Solitary Poem #

17

Growing, coming, filling up

Composed by:

Paula af Malmborg Ward

Solitary Poem #

16

Memories

Composed by:

Bo Hansson

Solitary Poem #

1

Orphan Elephant

Composed by:

Fredrik Högberg

Solitary Poem #

2

Sarabande

Composed by:

Fredrik Sixten

Solitary Poem #

3

Gracenotes

Composed by:

Steve Dobrogosz

Solitary Poem #

4

Later the Same Day

Composed by:

Britta Byström

Very happy to present this brilliant new piece by Swedish composer Britta Byström entitled "Later the Same Day".A canon for two soprano saxophones reminiscent of Steve Reich' s "Electric Counterpoint"
As a creative response to the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent obliteration of livelihoods for freelance musicians, this series of
SOLITARY POEMS FOR SOPRANO SAXOPHONE aims to ameliorate this situation and simultaneously support the creation of new music by
30 leading Swedish, Norwegian, British, and American composers.
This new repertoire will be a treasure when we can physically attend live performances again in our beloved Concert halls around the world.
This series will present a world premiere on the first day of every month until June 1st, 2023.

Britta Byström Swish: 0703 57 15 13
Sheet Music: Edition Wilhelm Hansen

Anders Paulsson Swish: 0768 68 49 49
paypal.me/ANDERSPAULSSONsopsax

Sound mixing by Håkan Sjögren SonoConsult
Video editing by Markus Heggestad

Program notes by the composer Britta Byström:

When Anders Paulsson asked me whether I would like to contribute with a solo saxophone piece to his pandemic project ”Solitary Poems”, I asked in return: ”is it OK with two saxophones...?”
I regarded it as going even further in the ingenuity of the lonely, isolated musician: letting him play a duet with himself! This also gave the form of the piece: From beginning to end, it is a strict canon, where saxophone number two – in a distance of four measures – imitates exactly the playing of saxophone number one. And never will the imitation be so exact as when a musician mirrors himself, does the same thing once more – only a little later... This made me think of Grace Paley’s famous short story collection ”Later the Same Day” (1985), from which I borrowed the title of the piece.
”Later the Same Day” for two soprano saxophones is dedicated to Anders Paulsson.

När Anders Paulsson frågade om jag ville bidra med ett soloverk för sopransaxofon till hans coronaprojekt ”Solitary Poems”, var min motfråga: ”går det bra med två saxofoner...?”
Jag såg det som att gå ytterligare ett steg i den ensamma, isolerade musikerns uppfinningsrikedom: att spela duett med sig själv! Detta gav också verkets form: en strikt kanon från början till slut, där saxofon nummer två – med ett avstånd på fyra takter – exakt härmar saxofon nummer ett. Och aldrig blir härmningen så exakt som när en musiker så att säga speglar sig själv, gör samma sak en gång till – bara lite senare... Det fick mina tankar att gå till Grace Paleys berömda novellsamling ”Later the Same Day” (1985), som fick bli verkets titel.
”Later the Same Day” för två sopransaxofoner är tillägnad Anders Paulsson.

Solitary Poem #

5

And The People Stayed Home

Composed by:

John Corigliano

Solitary Poem #

6

How Dare You?

Composed by:

Kjell Perder

Solitary Poem #

7

Of days gone by

Composed by:

Andrea Tarrodi

Solitary Poem #

8

Soliloquy

Composed by:

Stella Sung

Solitary Poem #

9

Solitude

Composed by:

Ann-Sofi Söderqvist

Solitary Poem #

10

Lontano

Composed by:

Johan Hammerth

Solitary Poem #

11

Piece to Anders from Marie

Composed by:

Marie Samuelsson

Solitary Poem #

12

Crux

Composed by:

Svante Henryson

Solitary Poem #

13

Shared Solitude - a duet with Theo Hillborg

Composed by:

Anders Hillborg

Solitary Poem #

14

Soliloquy VI

Composed by:

Thomas Simaku

Solitary Poem #

15

Call 23

Composed by:

Johan Hugosson

Anders Paulsson

Solitary Poems for
Soprano Saxophone

Welcome to the Solitary Poems project:

Solitary Poems album booklet

Solitary Poems #1-14 live Concert in Kungsholms Kyrka 20/11-2021

Solitary Poems #15-31 live Concert in Sofia Church, December 3, 2022

Prayer

amber soliloquy

Iridescence

Short/Suite

Growing, coming, filling up

Memories

Orphan Elephant

Sarabande

Gracenotes

Later the Same Day

And The People Stayed Home

How Dare You?

Of days gone by

Soliloquy

Solitude

Lontano

Piece to Anders from Marie

Crux

Shared Solitude - a duet with Theo Hillborg

Soliloquy VI

Call 23