“The mellifluous, sonorous voices of the saxophones contrasted the twinkling agile magical sound of the harp, so superbly played by Ms. Granger.”
Sydney Arts Guide
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The saxophone has long been vilified as the bad boy of the musical instrument world, banned by both popes and fascist dictators alike as a symbol of debauchery and hedonism. On the opposite end of the spectrum we have the wholly angelic harp, the instrument of Gabriel, Cupid and all things good. Put them together and the sparks fly producing a new and largely uncharted soundworld. The Nexas Saxophone Quartet is collaborating with renowned harpist Emily Granger to embark upon “Angel and Demons.”
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MAURICE RAVEL arr. A. Smith Introduction et Allegro 11’
RUSSELL HOWLAND Saxophone Quartet No.6 with Harp 13’
WIJNAND VAN KLAVEREN Song Without Words 5’
LYLE CHAN Gravity and Levity on the Sunbreathing Earth 10’
CLAUDE DEBUSSY arr. A. Smith Danse Sacrée et Danse Profane 11’
MICHAEL DUKE Angels and Demons 5’
VITTORIO MONTI - Czardas 4’
Emily Granger
American born, Australian based harpist Emily Granger has emerged as one of the country’s most compelling musical voices, hailed by ABC Classic as a “queen of contemporary classical performance in Australia.” Her performances and recordings, praised as “intoxicatingly beautiful” (The Australian), “an impressive debut” (Limelight), “beautiful” (BBC Music Magazine) and “performed in sumptuous style” (Harp Column), have been heard internationally from Carnegie Hall and The Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House. She is Principal Harpist of the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and serves on faculty at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.