Fantasia for Alto Saxophone - Claude T. Smith

[@whymypphard7552]

This is a certified hood classic

[@YoMamaBaldHead]

fr

[@rbv2819]

Bussin

[@imauz1127]

ong

[@christianweatherbroadcasting]

Repent and trust in Jesus. We all deserve Hell for our sins, such as lying lusting coveting and more. We can't save ourselves, but Jesus can save us. He died on the cross to save us for our sins and rose from the grave defeating death and Hell. You must put your faith in him only. He is the only way to Heaven. Repent and trust in Jesus. Romans 6:23 John 3:16❤😊❤

[@johnspence5689]

Certified Also the reason I was a band nerd and learned altissimo in middle school. Now ima be a band director

[@dahalofreeek]

This is really beautiful. I think classical saxophone deserves much more attention from composers. A lot of us saxophonists can play this kind of stuff.

[@jaredkhan8743]

dahalofreeek but jazz sax is just way sexier

[@keananok]

@@jaredkhan8743 Idk man, both can be pretty damn equally sexy

[@jetsettech8804]

​@@jaredkhan8743yea but some of us just want to read music every now and then.

[@SaxandRelax]

@@jaredkhan8743some of us are already sexy enough

[@christianweatherbroadcasting]

Repent and trust in Jesus. We all deserve Hell for our sins, such as lying lusting coveting and more. We can't save ourselves, but Jesus can save us. He died on the cross to save us for our sins and rose from the grave defeating death and Hell. You must put your faith in him only. He is the only way to Heaven. Repent and trust in Jesus. Romans 6:23 John 3:16❤😊

[@Evilope]

Regardless of the mistakes, I believe this performance is probably the best recording of Fantasia out there currently... His rich tone, precision, and clarity of all ranges of the saxophone make him all in all very satisfying to listen to. James Barger's performance, while certainly fantastic, lacked this precision and clarity numerous times in my humble opinion.

[@jamiekarlstevensmusic3361]

I've heard one better but I've never been able to find it on KZbin. :/

[@dysterotl]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/q5y6YoqaYr2qjLs Is it this one perhaps

[@turbosax1]

Dale Underwood has the best recording of this piece. It was written for him and he milks every ounce of musicality out of it.

[@brianjungen4059]

@@turbosax1I heard Dale play it live way back in the day. It was something. 😲

[@thanosave7112]

Even the Greatest saxophone player would have tremendous difficulty attempting to play this piece.

[@js_injection3978]

it's an excellent piece but i mean there are much, much harder ones. I could learn this for all-county auditions in about 2 months. I've been working on the Maslanka Sonata and Yoshimatsu's Cyberbird Concerto for years and still can't always play them clearly.

[@astrzt1463]

@@js_injection3978🤓

[@InstrumentManiac]

Can we talk about that 8va E!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? 5:45 has me shook

[@noisehero4409]

Literally the first comment I see, I can't comprehend how instruments work anymore.

[@LegendOfMithras]

Omg instrument maniac i never thought i was going to see you here

[@JeffreyShao]

Didn't expect to see you here.

[@kyushujet]

This brings back great memories playing this piece on tour with Dale as soloist when I was in the Texas Tech Symphonic Band in the late 80s, under the direction of Jim Sudduth. I played bari sax my freshman year and transitioned to tenor my sophomore and junior year. We were in awe of Dale of course back then and still am today. 😊

[@Zsaxman60]

I’m usually good at an altissimo G, A, B and C but after that it’s hit and miss for me. This guy did a magnificent job in the altissimo range.

[@Serenity-Amor]

How long did it take you to get good at it?

[@ananthanaarayansathyanaray4348]

@@Serenity-Amor it took me personally 2 years because I was slacking too much and didn’t practice as much as I have for the past 3 months. Although with consistent practice on overtones and voicing (highly suggest Ben Wendel’s book on that) you can easily hit a high d comfortably within at most 5-6 months. Beyond that it takes more than fingerings but a high e will definitely be attainable with the same approach. Keep grinding 👍👍

[@ananthanaarayansathyanaray4348]

@@nicholasrossi739 the latter. I didn’t even care to practice my first two years and after high school I was more motivated to at least pick up my horn. It was all really finding it on my own. Working on overtones and voicing works wonders

[@ananthanaarayansathyanaray4348]

@@nicholasrossi739 hey man that’s great. Keep grinding cause you have a gift

[@ananthanaarayansathyanaray4348]

@@nicholasrossi739 I’m a senior and I’m trying to make all state. I could’ve gotten this far earlier had Covid not affected me and if I had put 10 percent more effort in. It’s pretty impressive that you are a freshman and you can pull this off. Not many people can

[@Jamaka378]

5:43 best altissimo I heard in a Classical Piece.

[@sirdavidalot]

Soulful stuff

[@016_]

THAT 8VA SECTION!!! WHATTT!?!?!?!?!? THATS INSANE!!!

[@zangsax]

Wonderful showpiece performed masterfully. No need to compare musicians-it’s not sports, it’s music.

[@josed.vargas3961]

That slow section at 5:02 is probably the most passionate section of music I've ever heard and I mean this tops Tchaikovsky 6 and Chopin Prelude in E minor, and almost Barber's adagio for strings and just wow that is deep music

[@lightlyphoenix3312]

the bend is written, not a stylistic addition.

[@SaxandRelax]

@@lightlyphoenix3312where

[@JaeTapia]

How the frick-frack-snick-snack-padywack-slap-me-on-the-back-and-give-me-a-snack do u hit those notes?!?!?!?!?!

[@water7648]

J. Altissimo mastery bruh

[@modestseagull193]

luck and prayer

[@antinerfer11roblox31]

That one freshman warming up at an all state auditon

[@alexandriamarroquin7686]

I aspire to play this...my goodness its a masterpiece

[@RafikCezanneTV]

A brilliant piece. I could not imagine sight reading this.🙂

[@AmessageFor-You]

I'm guessing otis Murphy played this cause it sounds so freaking good, such amazing control!!!

[@calvinblackmon_sax]

yep!!!

[@joelneo0303]

Claude Smith is just incredible!

[@WeiMusicProductions]

+Joel Neo Agreed

[@thebestatitall]

this song makes me feel in love

[@juan15car]

This always gives me chills

[@Feneliana]

❤The most wonderful thing I hear while washing dishes.

[@keoni4824]

You're doing something right when you sound like a violin on a saxophone.

[@WeiMusicProductions]

Keoni Eppe that's not necessarily true.

[@saxophonewill4277]

WeiMusics However I think for this piece it works.

[@jaredkhan8743]

Keoni Eppe I genuinely couldn't tell if they switched to a violin at that 8va part 😂

[@丕刀卜乙卜人凹卜-d4x]

Keoni Eppe probably because of the vibrato

[@hasch5756]

You're doing something right when you sound like a saxophone on a violin

[@caaaaarbon8028]

wow，hey i just found a wonderful channel !!! And i want say THANK YOU FOR UPLOADED

[@ryanharris4938]

5:45 sent me chills down my back. #futuregoals

[@ogsteviewonder]

5:02 oh god, higher than some people can even hope to ever play

[@epicshecklemaster2606]

still one of the most ridiculous pieces of sax literature i have ever heard in my whole existence. Otis Murphy is the man

[@arcellican]

For real

[@chloemarstiller7855]

This is WILD omg I'd fail so bad at this

[@ryancarter2959]

chloe marstiller for about 5 seconds I'm like okay, I could do this. And then it gets into the absurdly high stuff and I'm like... alright. I quit

[@AM-nk7uj]

I hope I can play this one day

[@llllll4765]

last line.

[@Cashimat]

Y’know as a saxophone player I don’t think this would be that bad, except for the fact that 5:02 is literally just impossible for me at current skill level.

[@SaxandRelax]

I feel like that’s not even something practice. I’d need to sell my soul to the devil to do that

[@Cashimat]

@@SaxandRelax Ay good news! After 7 months I can finally do it! Every note from G to D I can hit basically every time just like normal notes. The E is gonna take some more work. Funnily enough I usually have most trouble with Altissimo G though.

[@astrzt1463]

@@Cashimatbro altissimo G is like impossible for no reason, G# is fine, G I always leak

[@johnspence5689]

Amen

[@GC_Gavin]

Just wow this is amazing

[@__Hatsune__Miku]

This gave me life

[@peterlehel-finetonemusic]

Thank you for this one

[@bloodyscalp94]

I'm really good at playing measures 1-9!

[@sheep2000]

ong 😭

[@MrPwncakes0011]

At 5:17 were those 2 extra notes on purpose? If they were it sounds awesome I like it better than the original

[@MrPwncakes0011]

Well nvm I noticed now he just missed the B octave jump, still sounds cool though

[@ririijadez1993]

Wow this is crazy good

[@黃建程-o7s]

好聽,贊喔…

[@scunnygal]

102 - 110 reminded me of a violin! It was so sweet!

[@jankofet13]

Beautiful playing Otis. I'm guessing that you are a professor of Saxophone at a College or University?

[@braxtonmcmullen-adair2410]

joseph abbott he teaches saxophone at Indiana

[@mel-ju7kp]

Can you get Carnival of Venice by Jules Demerssemen for the Alto Sax?

[@codyzuvich1712]

Bro I have been practicing this piece for like, a year, and I still cannot get taht altissimo E out dude. I have D really stable but E is just hit or miss

[@ToxicSnipezzzzz]

Love it. Thank you.

[@jaredkhan8743]

5:02 reminded me of botw for some reason 😂

[@israelgf9656]

lol some of the lines and short phrases are the same lines from certain bits of Legend of zelda

[@israelgf9656]

at 3:01 and 2:13 the same little jump down is present in the theme of hyrule castle from twilight princess

[@israelgf9656]

and in some parts, the rising lines are the same from the original legend of zelda theme like at 5:27, but it doesn't go as high in this piece and it matches exactly at 2:30

[@ProSax]

Bro predicted the altisimo totk theme

[@DJ-uy8qp]

Perfection in every sense of the word. Absolutely masterful

[@CouraTheExplora]

that altissimo gg

[@khunsupha_]

โหดจัง

[@hotman_pt_]

i can play this until the compass 9 without any problems.

[@ToxicSnipezzzzz]

😍😍

[@andrewnichols1240]

Sandbox toys tots in dreamland building sky shapes

[@antinerfer11roblox31]

It's possible to go to an ALTTISIMO E??

[@sprucewillowstein6762]

I'm playing this for NYSSMA solo fest, and I'm having so much trouble with the altissimo range. I'm currently using a 3.5 vandoren reed, can anyone give me advice on how to hit those notes??

[@peterburkholder4264]

Play overtone scales, major scales using only overtones

[@imender9219]

@@peterburkholder4264 My teacher made me play the whole first half of the Bozza Aria with overtones (I am not okay)

[@peterburkholder4264]

@imender9219 That sounds sweet actually going to try that today

[@artdecotimes2942]

7:49 impossible for me, I truly mean that..and my dyslexia incorporates into notes.

[@fstover5208]

Quite nice.

[@danielsmith7262]

Where can I get this set of sheet music? None of the copies I've printed have 8 va and I really want a score that has it.

[@sukhmanb5939]

write it in then lol

[@danielsmith7262]

@@sukhmanb5939 I would but I don't think that'd be accepted at competitions...

[@sukhmanb5939]

@@danielsmith7262 true lul, i'm pretty sure the 8 va is just an optional thing and isn't included in the piece itself so you have to just pretend it's there, (ofc this is just my guess)

[@danielsmith7262]

@@sukhmanb5939 Okay cool lol

[@samseltoter560]

Im a freshmen in highschool and I've gotta play this piece wish me luck

[@wettrousers]

same brutha, idk if youve played it yet but goodluck

[@saketgayake4200]

Hi oscar

[@frankinstineone23]

What happened to this video

[@thanosave7112]

I didn’t realize how much I sucked until i heard this 😮. no where near this level .

[@joelcostello2386]

I'm REALLY not ok ded

[@emanuelgonzalez7213]

had to play this is high school

[@jaredkhan8743]

eman297 361 how did u survive 😂 did u play the 8va?

[@joelrupard720]

Almost sounds like a violin

[@christianweatherbroadcasting]

Repent and trust in Jesus. We all deserve Hell for our sins, such as lying lusting coveting and more. We can't save ourselves, but Jesus can save us. He died on the cross to save us for our sins and rose from the grave defeating death and Hell. You must put your faith in him only. He is the only way to Heaven. Repent and trust in Jesus. Romans 6:23 John 3:16😊

[@lyntedrockley7295]

Well that was a spectacular performance of a demanding piece. Some here are indicating there were mistakes, presumably because we had the solo part on screen. Nonetheless the virtuosic playing and execution of rapid large interval jumps and altissimo control was just amazing. However..... it begs the question, why? There was in this piece very little musicality. Instead we have many passages of perfunctory progression. Difficult to execute but musically meaningless. And I'm sorry to say while the player's tone I quite like, the indiscriminate use of a constant fast vibrato to me robs his sound of musical emotion. It sounds like every note is simply turned on. I regret to have come to the conclusion that this classical sax sound seems to have become a fixed idea without anyone questioning if it is any good. Any other wind instrument would not be played like that. Some Eastern European young players, (there are some videos here of the Polish Conservatoire) to my ears have a much better conception of the sound of classical saxophone.

[@sheep2000]

ain’t readin ALLAT but we 🆙😭😭💀💀🙏🙏⁉️⁉️🗣️🗣️🐿️🐿️💯💯💈💈💈

[@kilowat1891]

People like you ruin music for me. Music is supposed to make you feel something, and this very well did that. Stop thinking about it so much so what if it’s “impractical” music in a whole is impractical. Let music be a creative outlet!!!

[@Cashimat]

I don’t agree, if you want a piece with more musicality which by that I assume you would be meaning Lyricalness with beautiful phrasing, then this isn’t the piece you are looking for. This peace is a technical piece, it’s meant to be fast paced with difficult rhythms not for any other reason than to show off the performer. They are called concertos. Why does saxophone have so many unmusical technical pieces? Well that’s because there aren’t many in general, and back when tons were being made because of Mule and Rascher, they were trying to show people what the saxophone could do. While there are parts with more musicality like 2:13 in which the player uses less vibrato, and better phrasing, I will say, a vibrato like his is needed for a solo work. I can assure you, were this to not be a solo work, but just a piece with saxophone, Otis Murphy would be able to blend very well with tone and vibrato! As well as I’d like to mention there are many different types of vibrato. If you think this guy has too much constant speedy vibrato, you should check out a recording of Marcel Mule, and find it can get worse (debatable on if it’s worse but based on your description of a bad one, it would be worse for you). Usually these many different types of vibrato are used in different countries, sometimes it can get to a point of war when it comes to how a Saxophones vibrato should sound classically. I think it’s used fine here. The 5:03 part is a lyrical part with altissimo in which I will tell you that it doesn’t matter. Sigurd Rascher once explained why Concertino Da Camera had a bunch of altissimo, and he said not for showing off reasons but rather that Ibert knew Rashcer could play 4 octaves, and just wanted the freedom of the extra notes. The composer of this piece wanted to use more of the saxophones range and probably felt limited. I was more surprised at the fact that he still had musicality through vibrato and phrasing while doing the altissimo than just the fact that he did it. Mistakes will happen, this is clipped from a live performance.

[@lyntedrockley7295]

Well its your opinion that doesn't agree, factually it seems you do agree. It seems your answer to my 'Why?' is 'To show off'. I don't think that is a valid reason for artistic expression. Therefore as I said, while I admire the virtuosity I cannot take the artistic aspect of this seriously. Yes, Mule sounds horrible. And has left a legacy of horrible playing that no one seems to question. (He also would not accept altissimo playing). Music is nothing, if it is merely technical. Of course Ibert would say that, and Rascher would endorse it. They'd look silly if they had said otherwise. But its not about 'a bunch of altissimo'. Its about how it is used, what purpose (apart from showing off) does it serve. Concertos may have historically been used for that purpose, but it is not their sole purpose. Technical virtuosity is only meaningful when combined with artistic expression. Artistic expression might be defined as communicating with the audience on an emotional level. It seems to me that a lot of classical saxophone playing seems devoid of this.@@Cashimat

[@cilantro5221]

There are various different schools of sound within the classical saxophone canon. Otis Murphy does tend to have a very fast vibrato. It’s just how he plays, I don’t think it takes away from his skill or musicality. I do agree that there was much less musicality in this piece than most classical repertoire, but I don’t think that was the point. I get the whole questioning the purpose of music if it’s just for technicality’s sake, but I think the entire piece was written to show off the technical ability of the saxophone. While it may not be the most noble reason, it’s a reason nonetheless. Kenneth Tse has a very good recording of this piece if you want another.

[@Insignexus]

add more solos such as Creston concerto, Albright sonata, fuzzy bird sonata, etc... also, Otis Murphy made many many mistakes on this recording

[@DavidLovrien]

Wow. Blunt demands and unnecessary criticism. You add so much to the world.

[@Insignexus]

This is an EDUCATIONAL purpose only. I understand that this may be "Blunt demands and unnecessary criticism" However, for a educational standpoint, there should be minimal mistakes as possible. I understand that its extremely difficult or impossible to find a perfect performance of this piece. Its like showing the music of Ibert preformed by a high school student for educational purpose to the public (This may be a extreme case but to make my case) In all respect, Otis Murphy is an excellent musician; however, I believe there CAN be a better option to selecting the recording of the music for this particular piece. Also, "You add so much to the world." I will take that as an excellent compliment : )

[@DavidLovrien]

Your reply was much more polite than your original message - keep up the good work! Now perhaps you could be helpful instead of critical and tell us who has recorded the "perfect performance". The creator of this video makes no money from it and it is a beautiful piece of work. Do not expect them to spend additional hours just because you heard some mistakes.

[@Insignexus]

Who knows if there is a "perfect recording"? I only said "there CAN be a better option", not that there maybe is. Even Tim McAlister claimed that he made some errors in his famous 'In Transit' album. All I know is that criticism exist because rooms for reaching perfection exists (which perfection is... truly impossible). My original intent of this "unnecessary criticism" came from stating the obvious mistakes. I'm not telling anyone to "fix" the errors, but want to tell the public, "Hey look guys, there are mistakes... well... a handful of them." Criticism is not wrong, and I want to make a point that this is to mainly inform the public that harsh it may seem, it is necessary for growth. "Otis Murphy made many many mistakes on this recording" - He made mistakes and that a fact; everyone makes mistakes. I'm not disproving nor condemning Dr. Murphy's skills, but I'm just here to state the obvious. If you are looking for "sugarcoated" and "civilized" comments... sorry. I'm not that type of guy. "Blunt demands and unnecessary criticism" seems much more colorful in my eyes. Sure, you may have different opinion in this matter since you are a incredible educator and performer, but this is how I state my beliefs. "Your reply was much more polite than your original message - keep up the good work!" - Wow! It finally seems like I'm talking to a intelligent human being! I wouldn't see that anywhere else if I converse with anyone else in the internet. Thank you for having a well educated conversation with me. Really appreciate it.

[@ryanolson8466]

If you haven't seen it James Barger did an amazing job on this piece. I highly recommend checking it out!

[@jankofet13]

Ok, after a quick Google it's all clear, but why are we teaching countless numbers of saxophone students to play classical when it won't benefit them one bit as far as a music career unless they become an academic themselves and repeat the redundant cycle. Oh...sorry? You could always join a military band and play "Stars and Stripes Forever" forever.

[@noname8354]

joseph abbott I only play classical because it's fun. Most saxophonists play because they like the instrument

[@jzer21]

joseph abbott studying classical music teaches mastery of the instrument. The same can be said for any other instrument.

[@Sebastian-_-T_T]

Are you saying only classical music can teach you mastery? What about Charlie Parker? Was he not a master at his horn?

[@carret34]

Sebasss Nah man I'm majoring in jazz saxophone and hate studying classical as much as the next guy and it does seem very rudimentary and stuck up but it undoubtably teaches complete control and "flawlessness" with playing. It's a different genre but it definitely makes you more flexible and as a musician you'll take any gig you can get most of the time lol. Classical is also really nice to practice to break technical habits you might have while your improvising.

[@jzer21]

Charlie Parker studied classical music. He studied composition and was particularly keen on Stravinsky and Bartok. I've also read that he often poured over the Ferling etudes and studied with Henry Lindeman as well, but can't site that. However, I do take your point and no, I'm not saying that jazz can't teach mastery. Just that the demands of the two different genres are simply different and classical(with its rigorous requirements, structure, and centuries of pedagogical development) lends itself to teaching in a more effective way. There is a reason why jazz performance programs require an element of classical study.

[@johnspence5689]

It’s not even perfect

[@saiyankohi2399]

Then you try it if you’re so picky you wetwipe.