Carter - Canonic Suite

I – Fanfare

II – Nocturne

III - Tarantella

As the title may suggest, this Elliot Carter work comprises three movements exploring three different uses of canon. The initial ‘Fanfare’ is an extremely brief unison canon, the second movement a haunting Nocturne and the third a lively and intricate Tarantella. The work was originally scored for clarinet quartet, but was rescored by the composer in 1981 for four alto saxophones. The work represents the earlier, less abrasive period of Carter’s output, but nonetheless a pearl in chamber music repertoire.