Fugue in Blue for Saxophone Quartet by Hugh Levey
SATB or AATB

Fugue in Blue started out as a Clarinet Trio called Jazz Fughetta, indicating that it was a simple fugue in a jazz style, but without the formality of a fully worked out fugue. In this Saxophone Quartet version, the first three voices enter fugally with the second beginning on the dominant and the third back in the tonic. After a contrapuntal interlude based on the opening rhythms, the fourth voice enters on the sub-dominant.

The original work was a student composition exercise, combining a conventional classical form (fugue) with a syncopated jazz style. Many years later it has been reworked in swing style with a more laid back feel and some more inventive harmony and jazz articulation, so ideally suited to sax quartet.

The work is well suited to recital programmes, as a light-hearted opener or relaxed interlude in a more serious concert. It is also suited to younger players who wish to combine the discipline of ‘classical’ chamber music while learning about jazz articulation, such as falls and short notes at the ends of phrases.