Fanfare and Tuba Tune

Stanley E. Saxton (1904-2002) was professor emeritus of music at Skidmore College. He earned bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from Syracuse University; he also studied organ with Marcel Dupre and Charles Marie Widor at the American School in Fontainbleau in France, as well as composition with Nadia Boulanger. He held his first church organist job at the age of 12, formed his own orchestra as a college freshman, and toured Europe with Paul Whiteman’s Collegians. A member of the American Guild of Organists, Saxton designed and built many pipe organs in the eastern U.S. He also pursued research in indigenous folk music as source material for compositions, and composed many published works for organ, piano, voice, and chorus.

"Fanfare and Tuba Tune" was published in 1959 by Galaxy Music, and dedicated to Val Wilson. It is a VERY unusual Fanfare, and even more unusual Tuber Tune... ;-) When I play this, I immediately think of 1950's religius movie epics, like "Ben Hur" or "The Robe" etc. They all start with scenes of the Roman army marching off to conquest, with standards carried high. The narrator says something like: "In the year 30 AD, Rome ruled the world and all payed tribute to her..." Well, the Fanfare will immediately "show" you these sorts of images. Now the "Tuba Tune" is very different. For one thing, it does NOT use the tuber, as an expressive reed is called for. I used the Solo Tromba, with the Great Diapasons coupled "up" to the Solo. He calls for a Stentorphone, and the First Open Diapason on the Great does the trick. I don't know how to "fit in" the tuba tune in the description. The whole thing (including the fanfare) could be a grand circus march. Or, if you like the Roman empire idea, I guess this could be where the carry the beautiful, and yet non-Christian princess along...

At any rate, I LOVE this piece, and if I ever record an album (not likely), I think this will be the opener! ;-)