An intermediate level arrangement for soprano saxophone with piano accompaniment of Mozart’s Laudate Dominum which dates from 1780. The arranger’s intention has been to prepare a performance piece with the melody accompanied by the piano sounding arpeggiated chords and bass. This is classical music in the truest of senses. The realisation plays back at 36 dotted quarter notes or crotchet beats to the minute. Piano accompaniments are available playing back at 32, 34, 36, 38, 40 and 42 dotted quarter note or crotchet beats to the minute are available. Soprano players need to be aiming to play with a beautiful legato, planning their breathing carefully and aiming to phrase the music to communicate the beauty of the melodic line. It is an excellent movement for players to work at improving tonal quality and tonal range in their playing. In the solo instrument with piano accompaniment arrangement the hidden empty staves option has used simply to reduce the number of pages required in printing the score. The text derived from the psalms suggests a prayer context which makes this an appropriate performance piece needed for a time of reflection. The full title of the work by Mozart is Laudamus Dominum omnes gentes from Vesperae solemnes de confessor K.339. As there is a reduction in the musical texture some of the original musical content has been omitted. The rhythms of the melody are determined very much by the patterns of the latin text and it would sensible for instrumentalists to be familiar with a recording or two of the original version of the work to study the breathing and phrasing of the singers. This is an excellent piece to study to see how the composer resolves dissonance and makes use the circle of fifths in his harmonic choices. Mozart’s approach to composition is always very disciplined and studied but at the same time musical ideas are always expressed originally and imaginatively. Appoggiaturas (leaning notes) are also a strong feature.
