Most famous for their use in jazz music, saxophones are also typically related with classical music instruments like clarinets and flutes. Despite the fact that the instrument enjoys occasional use in some classical arrangements, it rarely served as a key part of classical music. While classical and pop music are completely different music styles, composers like John Adams have been known to straddle the line that separates the two. He and others do so by making use of the saxophone as a classical instrument in his version of a Saxophone Concerto. Adam's is not the first to create such a musical composition; Adam's is known for writing arrangements in which the saxophone plays a way more beneficial function than countless other Saxophone Concerto's.

The year was 1846 when the saxophone was introduced by Adolphe Sax. Adolphe meant to close the gap between woodwind and brass instruments. However, the pitch was set according to the instruments sound as opposed to the standard classical sounds which were most popular at that time. He had initially created two versions in the saxophone. The initial being C and F pitched models which he intended to become put to use in classical music. The second were Bb and Eb models which had been intended for military band usage. In spite of his intentions, the C and F version will be the saxophones have never certainly been made use of for musical compositions, when the Bb and Eb are usually implemented within a number of compositions. Adolphe Sax conceived the saxophone with the motive of incorporating the projection and tone of a brass instrument with the playing technique of woodwind's. The expressive and agile design of the instrument that provided a variety of sounds is to attribute to the fascination with the saxophone in solo jazz gigs and other popular music.

John Adams chose soloist Timothy McAllister to take command over the primary performance of his concerto in the states, together with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra. Adams had utilized McAllister’s virtuosic saxophone methods in the past for his piece, City Noir, and was eager to produce a thing having a more complicated saxophone element to showcase McAllister’s skills. Clocking in around 30 mins, the Saxophone Concerto is certainly one showcase of complicated passages and sophisticated polyrhythmic structures, all dedicated to the wide selection of articulation possible using a saxophone. Reported by McAllister, the piece is amongst the most complicated he has ever played. Nevertheless, Adams has faith in McAllister’s ability to complete the relentless streams of speedy segments that cover the full tonal range of the saxophone. John Adams’ Saxophone Concerto made its North American debut on September 20, 2013, and a studio recording is planned within the not to distant future.