BACKSTAGE WITH… Saxophonist Amy Dickson
You are performing the world premiere of Macmillan’s Saxophone Concerto in Perth. What inspired you to approach him to compose for the instrument?
I’ve loved his music for many years and I had transcribed two of his pieces for saxophone. I approached him about a concerto and fortunately he was very interested. He came round to my house a few weeks ago and I played it through to him and we went through it. He’s really nailed writing for the saxophone.
What various influences can listeners hear in the work?
The concerto is very much inspired by Macmillan’s natural interest in Scottish traditional music and there is a cheekiness to it. The first movement, March, Strathspey and Reel, evokes traditional forms but there’s also a lot of modern harmony. The Gaelic Psalm second movement is inspired by the singing in the Free Presbyterian Church where a cantor stands at the front of the church and the congregation sings back to him. I play the role of the cantor in front of the orchestra. The final movement is called Jigs and is very traditional-sounding with pizzicato strings below the saxophone.
The piece is partnered with Glazunov’s Concerto. How important is this work in the saxophone repertoire?
It was premiered in 1934 just before Glazunov died and it’s one of the cornerstones of the repertoire. It’s very fast, all in one movement – about 15 minutes long – and finishes with a really intense fugue.