Fairfax Saxophone Quartet
From Baroque to Modern the Fairfax Saxophone Quartet demonstrates the amazing versatility of the saxophone. The FSQ performs a wide variety of musical styles, including contemporary arrangements of popular music, Broadway hits, Jazz, Latin, Pop, Ragtime, Rock, and timeless arrangements of classical favorites. The FSQ plays year-round as ambassadors of good will for the highly acclaimed City of Fairfax Band.
The FSQ members:
James Francis, Soprano Saxophone
Founder and leader of the FSQ
Marshall Wise, Alto Saxophone
Brian Cole, Tenor Saxophone
Carey Johnston, Baritone Saxophone.
Since 1985 the FSQ has performed for audiences throughout the Washington, D.C. area, and even beyond. Engagements have included: an appearance at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage; the Kennedy Center Annual Fall Open House gala; 32nd , 36th , and 38th International Saxophone Symposiums; Barnes and Nobel Book stores; City of Alexandria “Lunch Bunch” and “Holiday” concerts; City of Fairfax Veterans Memorial Amphitheater Summer Concert series, the Fairfax Fall Festival and “Spotlight on the Arts” at the Old Town Hall and Sherwood Center in Fairfax City; Fairfax County Park Authority “Summer in the Park” series; the Freshman Center of George Mason University; the Herndon Train Station Town Hall Square; the Old Post Office Pavilion and Dupont Circle Festival of Music and Garden in Washington, D.C.; Udvar-Hazy Smithsonian Museum; the Torpedo Factory in Old Town Alexandria; the Virginia Municipal League Conference at Tysons II; the Filene Center at Wolf Trap; Our Daily Bread “Empty Bowls” Charity; Bonita Lestina Performance Series; area retirement and care centers; and as featured soloists with the City of Fairfax Band.
Fairfax Sax Quartet Repertoire
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The FSQ has premiered sixteen new works or arrangements for the saxophone quartet, including:
Amazing Grace
Pachelbel’s Dilemma
Sonatina for Saxophone Quartet
Till You Come Back Home,
Twelve-Tone Prelude and Fugue
Turkey In The Woodshed by Michael Frank Francis
Pachelbel’s Canon in D
Rachmaninoff’s Prelude Op.3 No. 2
A.J. Weidt’s Dat Yam Rag, arranged by Michael Frank Francis
Elegy for Saxophone Quartet by Nick M. Mavrakis and arranged by Michael Frank Francis
Suite for Saxophone Quartet by David Berkenbilt
Double Fugue In C Major by Lee Larsen
A Day at the Park by David M. Rubenstein;
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Nearly one hundred pieces by various composers have been arranged for the FSQ by our own James Francis. They include:
Louis Ottschalk’s Morte!, Danza, Souvenir De Porto Rico, and SuisMoi! Caprice
Gershwin’s Lullaby
Danza Espanola No. 6 by Enrique Granados
The Bells of St. Genevieve by Marin Marais
Quintet in Eb Major, K.452 for Piano and Saxophone Quartet by Mozart
Quintet in Eb Major , Op. 16 for Piano and Saxophone Quartet by Beethoven
Quintet in Bb Major for Piano and Saxophone Quartet by Rimsky-Korsakov
Mozart String Quartet in G Major, K,387 (dedicated to Haydn)
Visions of America String Quartets by Martin Yates
L.A. Beach Music, New York Night Music, ‘Frisco Bay Music, and Nashville – Tennessee
Images by Rob Landes
Greek Suite for Saxophone Quartet by Greek composer Marilena Zlatanou
A Cool Wind, by New Zealand composer John Psathas.
Book the FSQ for Your Next Event!
For booking information, please contact Jim Francis at jffrancis@aol.com
