Liturgical Music for Band, Op. 33: E-flat Alto Saxophone

Liturgical Music for Band, Op. 33, was completed in 1963. Since then, the piece has become a landmark work in the band repertoire with countless performances by several generations of students. The piece is based on four movements selected from the Mass "Proper" and "Ordinary." The band plays in a chime-like style to announce the opening movement, "Introit." The second movement has the same three sections as the "Kyrie" from the Mass (Kyrie eleison -- Christe eleison -- Kyrie elieison). The theme of the third movement is the same rhythm as the word "Gloria," and the style is jubilant, just like the Mass text ("Glory to God in the highest . . . "). The fourth movement, "Alleluia," features an energetic fugue and an exciting climax.