Quartet Suite on Mexican Themes: 4 Saxophones SATBar Conductor Score & Parts

Warm sunlight on adobe walls, the clang of market bells, and the unmistakable swagger of regional brass bands fill these movements. Curtis balances folkloric color with sophisticated harmonic language, creating music that feels both rooted in place and musically substantial.

Intermediate to advanced saxophone quartets seeking repertoire with personality and ensemble polish. This works equally well for high school advanced groups and college-level ensembles building a diverse concert program.

• Balance the texture carefully in the opening movement; the alto and baritone lines carry essential harmonic weight alongside the soprano and tenor soloists.
• Lean into the rhythmic swagger of El Burro Viejo. Slight relaxation of the tempo in spots will let the character breathe rather than rush.
• Use the conductor score to shape phrase direction across sections; Curtis relies on subtle harmonic shifts to signal new ideas, not dramatic tempo changes.
• Lock the rhythm section (tenor and baritone) early in rehearsals so soprano and alto can focus on the lyrical and decorative figures floating above.

Program the entire suite as a standalone work for a chamber concert or wind ensemble festival appearance. The varied tempos and moods give the full arc satisfying closure; shorter programming options include pairing individual movements with contrasting contemporary works.

• Reading and executing Latin rhythmic patterns and clave structures across four independent parts
• Balancing four saxophones as soloists and harmonic support simultaneously
• Responding to conductor cues for subtle harmonic shaping rather than obvious structural markers
• Sustaining lyrical phrasing while maintaining driving rhythmic groove