ENSEMBLES 2016

Tübinger Saxophon-Ensemble

The Formation
Founded in 1997, the Tübinger Saxophon-Ensemble originated from the saxophone quartet "Saxtett Tübingen". Since then, the ensemble is committed to fostering the appreciation of the saxophone as a classical orchestral instrument by playing concerts and to passing on the knowledge about the instrument's roots to the next generation of players through teaching.

The Saxophonists
In the meantime, the ensemble has grown to a size of 15 saxophone players and two percussionists. Most of its members, the majority of whom grew up in southern Germany and Switzerland, were awarded the prestigious "Jugend musiziert"-awards and played in various national and international orchestras. The repertoire includes arrangements of compositions from all music eras as well as original works written for this specific instrumentation. Many pieces were arranged by members of the ensemble, other arrangements are from the arranger and clarinetist Thomas Krause. The musicians almost exclusively play on old Buescher saxophones, which are modelled after the original design by Adolphe Sax.

Activities / Awards
In the summer months, the ensemble regularly embarks on tours around the world, filling concert halls abroad with its distinguished sound. This sound, however, offers little resemblance with the "jazzy" tone the saxophone is well-known for. Stuttgart's newspaper "Stuttgarter Zeitung" for example marvels at the ensemble's "orchestral radiance". And the "Schwäbische Tagblatt" reads "regarding the quality and the body of the tone this ensemble is in no way inferior to a full-size symphonic orchestra". But the ensemble also knows how to deliver in front of professional juries. At the Deutscher Orchesterwettbewerb (German Music Competition) in 2004 the ensemble won the first prize on the state level and the second prize on the federal level.
In August 2006, the ensemble went on tour through Southern Africa and gave much-noticed concerts in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana and Sambia. At the International Music Competition "Tygerberg Fanfare" in Cape Town, South Africa, the ensemble was awarded the first prize with distinction. The ensemble also hosted a total of three Workshops in Namibia and Sambia. The attendance was overwhelming and the participant's feedback extremely positive.
Asia, New Zealand, and Australia were the destinations of the long-distance tour in 2009. The highlights: a performance in the world famous Concert Hall of the Sydney Opera House, and the Gold Medal with distinction that the ensemble was awarded by the Jury of the 20th Australian International Music Festival.
In spring 2014, the ensemble toured the East Coast of the United States of America including performances at Carnegie Hall, New York, Kennedy Center, Washington, and Florida State University amongst others. Both at the New York and Washington International Music Festivals the ensemble was awarded „Showcase“ by renowned international juries. Based on the great success of this concert tour, the ensemble was invited back to the USA in the fall of 2014 to perform at the Peréz Art Museum in Miami.

Harry D. Bath

Conductor

Harry D. Bath was born in 1947 in Portsmouth, England. After successful studies at the prestigious "Royal Military School of Music, Kneller Hall" in London majoring in oboe, he came to Germany as a military musician and stayed there after finishing his military service. He took the conducting exam (ARCM) at the "Royal College of Music" in London. He served the municipal band in Kirchheim unter Teck as musical director from 1974 until his retirement in 2012.
In 1986 he was appointed artistic director of the State Wind Orchestra of Baden-Württemberg. During his more than 10 years of work there the orchestra gained an international reputation.
Numerous successes at competitions on state, federal and international levels, as well as recordings well recognized in professional circles have confirmed his reputation as a skilled and sought after conductor in the field of symphonic wind music. This is also reflected by his numerous engagements as guest conductor of renowned orchestras (including Eifflermusiktage, State Wind Orchestra Hesse, Southwest Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band Württembergisches Allgau, etc.), the works of renowned composers (such as Rolf Rudin and Paul Kühmstedt) dedicated to him, as well as his many collaborations with outstanding soloists (S. Mead, A. Mangelsdorf, Ack van Royen, The Rascher saxophone Quartet, and many more).
In 2005 he took over the conductorship of the Tübinger Saxophon-Ensemble.

Competition Program

Additional Concerts Program