Variations on a Breton Noel

Variations on a Breton Noel (1867)

César Franck (1822 – 1890)

s/AATB Saxophone Quartet

Variations on a Breton Noel by César Franck, arranged for S/AATB saxophone quartet. This piece, also called Offertoire on a Breton Noel, was published by César Franck in 1867. It is one of Franck’s earliest works for organ or harmonium. The piece is a short set of variations on the old French Noel “Un Dieu vient de naitre”.

This arrangement of Variations on a Breton Noel is arranged for AATB saxophone quartet but a Soprano substitute for Alto Sax 1 is included as well.

• The range for each saxophone part is shown below.
• Audio and score excerpts are available above.
• Registered users can download a complete sample score and full length audio file of Variations on a Breton Noel on the ‘Samples’ tab.

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About the Composer

César Franck was born on December 10, 1822, in Liège, Netherlands. He entered the Liège conservatory at age 8 and later attended the Paris Conservatory. He left early to perform with his brother, which was ultimately a setback for his career. He became an organ professor at the Paris Conservatory in 1872. His compositions, such as Symphony in D Minor, are noted for their melodic flights. He died in 1890.