Darius Milhaud, a leading figure of Les Six, was greatly influenced by jazz and Latin American folk music, which is evident in works like Scaramouche.
Performer Biography
Jussi Siirala, the pianist on tracks 20-25, won first prize in the Rombrov-Stepmov competition in Vienna in 1972.
Performer Biography
Margit Rahkonen, the pianist on tracks 1-19, made a well-received Carnegie Hall debut in October 1977.
Instruments
The saxophone, though invented by a Belgian, Adolphe Sax, was first publicly played in Paris in Berlioz's sextet, Hymne Sacré.
Historical Context
The Paris Conservatoire was the first higher education institution to include the saxophone in its syllabus, starting a class in 1857 primarily for military musicians.
Composition History
Many works for wind players, including Roger Boutry's Divertimento, were commissioned for the annual spring concours (competition) of the Paris Conservatoire.
Performer Biography
Pekka Savijoki, the saxophonist on this recording, studied at the Sibelius Academy and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique in Paris, and was a pupil of Daniel Deffayet.
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