An introduction to the saxophone on one French, cultural Thursday

Pianist Mariel Ilusorio and saxophonist Adam Campbell

An intimate concert by South African saxophonist Adam Campbell and Filipina pianist MarieI Ilusorio that highlighted the French influence in the saxophone’s repertoire was the main course at the premiere edition of Les Jeudis culturels presented by the Cultural Section of the Embassy of France to the Philippines and the Alliance Française de Manille.

South African saxophonist Adam Campbell talking to the audience

Campbell and Ilusorio showed a different side of the saxophone that night through music by French composers like André Jolivet’s Fantaisie Impromptu, Paule Maurice’s Tableaux de Provence, Jules Demersseman’s Fantaisie, Darius Milhaud’s Scaramouche, Eugène Bozza’s Aria, and Jean Matitia’s Devil’s Rag. The composers may have been French but some of the influences came from across the Atlantic in the case of the bouncy Brazilian rhythms of Scaramouche and the delightful left hand syncopation inherent in the American ragtime of Devil’s Rag. A taste of non-French music were heard with the encores: Czárdás by the Spanish Pedro Iturralde and Oblivion by the Argentinean Astor Piazzolla.

Filipina pianist Mariel Ilusorio sharing info about the music

Scaramouche is always a pleasure to hear and it was my first time to experience live the saxophone and piano version of it. The two piano version of the piece is among my favorites. I positioned myself near the back of the venue so as not to distract other people as I swayed my head from side to side in time with the beat during the reprise of the third movement Brazileira for the duo's third and last encore.

I also have to say my apologies to Campbell since my focus was solely on Ilusorio during the Devil’s Rag. Never did I imagine seeing her play ragtime music, so this was special.

Mariel Ilusorio and Adam Campbell

The concert was also filled with information as both Campbell and Ilusorio annotated in between pieces. Audience members learned that the saxophone was invented by the Belgian Adolphe Sax in the early 1840’s. But the instrument started to flourish in the 20^th century as evidenced by the wealth of music that was composed during that time, some of which were performed at the concert. And despite looking like a brass instrument, the saxophone actually belongs to the woodwind family. So it's safe to bet that those who initially expected a jazz filled night were nonetheless swayed in the end by the gems of the "classical" saxophone repertoire.

Le Jeudis culturels (Cultural Thursdays) is a monthly event (happening on a Thursday) presented by the Cultural Section of the Embassy of France to the Philippines and the Alliance Française de Manille that will showcase different aspects of French culture form like music, theater, dance poetry, gastronomy, etc. in each edition.