Gordon Jacob‘s RHAPSODY FOR ALTO SAXOPHONE AND STRINGS was composed on October 27, 1948 and was originally written as a Rhapsody for English Horn (Cor Anglais) and Strings for the oboist Terence MacDonagh. Jacob simultaneously created the alternative arrangement for the E-flat alto saxophone, which has since become a staple in classical saxophone repertoire.
On 17th March 1963 Jack Harrison performed the Australian premiere at an ABC Free Concert with the West Australian Symphony Orchestra conducted by John Farnsworth Hall . This open-air event was part of the ABC’s Summer Orchestral Concerts series.
Jack performed it on his Henri Selmer Mark VI alto saxophone (serial number M57874, manufactured around 1954–1955.
Soloist: Jack Harrison (saxophonist and harmonica player)
Programme includes:
Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Strings (Gordon Jacob)
Romance for Harmonica and Orchestra (Vaughan Williams)
Tomorrow Night at 8pm
Supreme Court Gardens
| 17 Mar 1963 | Gordon Jacob Rhapsody for Alto Saxophone and Strings (1948) AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE Vaughan Williams Romance for Harmonica and Orchestra (1951) AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE | Jack Harrison (saxophone) Jack Harrison (harmonica) John Farnsworth Hall (conductor) West Australian Symphony Orchestra | ABC Free Concert, Supreme Court Gardens Perth, Western Australia |