The Conerto voor Saxofoon en Blassensemble was composed in 2018 for Dutch saxophonist Ati Lust and the Noord-Hollands Blazers Ensemble, under the direction of Lex Bak. Written in a tonal idiom, the concerto is in three movements, in which the soloist is required to perform on the alto saxophone in the technically challenging outer movements, and on the soprano saxophone in the lyrical and reflective middle movement. Dancelike rhythms alternate with plaintive melodies throughout the work providing the soloist the opportunity for bravura display.

John Franceschina, composer, has created scores for the National Shakespeare Company and the Provincetown Playhouse in New York City, the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, the Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Baltimore's Center Stage, Washington's Ford's Theatre and the Arena Stage, the Pittsburgh Public Theatre, Cleveland Playhouse, Florida Studio Theatre, Geva Theatre, Syracuse Stage, Papermill Playhouse, Music Theatre Works, and the Moscow Art Theatre, in addition to the Asolo State Theatre in Sarasota, Florida, where he acted as composer-in-residence from 1976 to 1993. His Fanfare for the Fiftieth was commissioned by Philippe Entremont for the fiftieth anniversary of the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra in 1985; his secular oratorio, Houtebeen, for male chorus, string orchestra and accordion ensemble, toured the Netherlands in 2014, and his opera, Scenes from the Jungle toured the Netherlands in 2019.

Music by John Franceschina

(Titles in this Series)

Requiem

(Chorus, soloists, accordion ensemble)

Concerto voor Saxofoon en Blassensemble

Vuurwerk ("Fireworks")

(Accordion ensemble, percussion)

Kynaston; Concert Variations on a Theme by Henry Purcell

(Accordion ensemble, percussion)

Oroonoko; Rhapsody for Bayan Accordion Ensemble and Percussion

Leiden Suite (Accordion Ensemble)

Journey to the Center of the Earth; 3 Ballets

(Accordion ensemble, actors, dancers, percussion)

Scenes from the Jungle, an opera

(Vocal soloists, accordion ensemble, percussion)

Houtebeen, an oratorio

(Male chorus, string orchestra, accordion ensemble, percussion)

Joppenszoon, a cantata for tenor and baritone

(Accordion ensemble, percussion)

Concerto Grosso for Blassensemble, Accordion Ensemble, and Percussion

Desire Under the Elms: Incidental Music for Orchestra

Candida: Incidental Music for String Quartet