by Elizabeth Connolly
Hometown Weekly Reporter
It was all about the brass last Wednesday, March 29th, when dozens of locals came out to see the Boston Saxophone Quartet (BSQ) play at the Walpole Public Library (WPL). This event was sponsored by the Friends of WPL and was supported in part by a grant from the Walpole Cultural Council.
The evening kicked off promptly at 7:30. After introducing themselves - Tom Ferrante on soprano sax, Jim Repa on alto, Peter Cokkinias on tenor sax and Bob Chadwick on baritone - the foursome kicked off the hour-long performance with a Toccata by Girolamo Frescobaldi. From there, they went on to play an assortment that included show tunes, ragtime, classical, and swing. Many audience members were tapping their feet and clapping their hands in time with the music. “This is great,” said an attendee. “I love this music; so many memories!”
The saxophone has the distinction of being the only modern widely used instrument that was created by one person, Belgian inventor Adolphe Sax. Though they are popular and well-known instruments today, they were not widely well received when Sax first designed them in the early 1840s. In fact, they were not taken seriously as an instrument until about the 1920s, after spending the first couple of decades in the twentieth century as the go-to accompaniment of American vaudeville.
The four members of the BSQ are accomplished on all woodwind instruments, and their various individual accolades include playing with the Boston Pops, conducting the Metrowest Symphony Orchestra, directing a local high school band, and playing with the Thayer Philharmonic Orchestra. More information on this talented group can be found at www.bostonsaxquartet.com. For a list of upcoming library events, please visit www.walpolelibrary.org.
