Gabriel Prokofiev - Saxophone Concerto, Bass Drum Concerto - Marsalis, Branford

In his new saxophone concerto, Gabriel Prokofiev explores an aspect of classical music that contemporary composers generally consider taboo: melody. This aspect was included at the request of soloist Branford Marsalis, allowing Prokofiev to return to features of the classical tradition that are not usually heard in contemporary music. This gave the saxophone an open canvas. Prokofiev's bass drum concerto demonstrates the versatility of the instrument, even though it is used in classical music in its entirety in a very simple way. Throughout the work, Prokofiev experiments with how the bass drum is struck, where it is struck, and what is used to strike it, producing different sounds, colors, and textures.