Listen Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HmVMeHZl8ig&list=RDHmVMeHZl8ig&start_radio=1

Contact nicrussoniello@gmail.com to order score & parts

“Not all world premieres are created equal. Hand on heart, for me this was the best I’ve heard so far, and judging by the audience reaction at the close of the piece, everyone seemed to feel the same. It’s always a sign when – lots – of people jump to their feet, pound the floor, and cheer and clap their way through three encores. Incredible." Classikon Ron Ringer (Concerto for Alto Saxophone Where the Mountain World Premiere)

This work draws inspiration from the Illawarra’s Mt. Keira and surrounding landscapes; where the mountain meets the sea. Mt. Keira looms above the city of Wollongong like a watchful guardian, the mountain’s dramatic façade was an ever-present backdrop to my childhood.

Mvt. I Mountain Watching commences with a reverberating call and response between the soloist and the ensemble: an exchange between the watched and the watcher. The work builds towards a highly virtuosic climax in the solo part. A broad palette of saxophone effects depict the sonic landscape of the mountain.

Mvt. II Mountain Weeping centres on a simple melody which is taken up by the saxophone and further developed in an extended cadenza. The movement culminates in a flowing and nostalgic theme, poured out by the orchestra.

Mvt. III Mountain Dance is a romp in compound time. Vibrant, virtuosic and light-hearted, it is a celebration of life at the foot of the mountain.

This work forms part of an Australia Council for the Arts project to reimagine the possibilities of the concerto format for our times.