The Influence of Sigurd Rascher on the Development of Saxophone Repertoire

Sigurd Rascher was one of the most influential saxophonists of the Twentieth Century. Rascher’s prolific career as a concert saxophonist and his reputation for his pedagogy paired with his pioneering work on the altissimo register of the saxophone ensured that a large body of repertoire was written by composers for the saxophone from across the world. His successful career is a testament to his dedication to the instrument. This being said, how exactly did Rascher champion the technique of altissimo and how has that effected the types of works written for the saxophone since?

This research seeks to contextualise Rascher’s career as a saxophonist with the surrounding musical and political environment to help assess the extent to which Rascher played a part in the development of saxophone repertoire. This research is paired with two case studies of three different works written for Rascher. These case studies stand as a practical exploration of the methods Rascher used on works that were written for him. The research into and the exploration of these case studies culminated in two recitals where I had a chance to put my findings into real performance situations. Each case study finishes with a reflection of my findings and how these relate back to the central assessment of Rascher’s influence on the development of saxophone repertoire.