Roy Allen, Jr. presents The Complete Collection of the 48 Etudes for Oboe or Saxophone by W. Ferling
Listen now!  -  Order CD  -  Inspiration About Roy Allen, Jr.  -  Special Thanks

Email: rallen@dcccd.edu

The Inspiration behind the CD...

I remember when I was going through middle school and high school being taught various etudes from the 48 Famous Studies by Ferling.  I was fortunate to go to a school that had a very strong private lesson music program.  The professional musicians that came to teach us were not only dedicated to being strong performers but excellent teachers.  As I moved from etudes to actual solo pieces, not only did I receive my saxophone teacher's perspective but was encouraged to listen to recordings of whatever I was working on at that time.

Since moving from being a student to being a teacher/performer, it dawned on me that I had never heard a professional recording of the complete Ferling collection of the forty-eight etudes, which I thought could be a valuable source for those who aren't fortunate enough to have anyone take the time to thoroughly teach/play the etudes for them.  For those who benefit from excellent instruction on how to perform these etudes, the CD can be a source to "compare and analyze" what you wish to embrace and try to incorporate as well as disagree and ignore.

Not to overstate the obvious, but when I recorded all forty eight etudes I was trying to capture what I felt to be the "spirit" of each one.  The spirit or musicality of each etude is not based on exact tempo but rather the expression of feelings through rubato (used in both slow and fast etudes), wide range of dynamics, various lengths of notes/articulation style, use or non-use of vibrato, different speed/widths of vibrato and technical proficiency when needed.

I hope that this CD is as much of an inspiration to those who listen to it as it was for me to do!

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About Roy Allen, Jr.:

Mr. Allen has a bachelors and masters degree in saxophone performance from Baylor University.  He currently teaches middle school and high school students privately in the Dallas area and is director of instrumental studies at Brookhaven College.  He is a member of the Dallas Wind Symphony and is a very active adjudicator and clinician for master classes throughout Texas.  His students have consistently been successful in the Texas All-State system, TSSEC (Texas State Solo & Ensemble Contest) and as present many have become professional musicians and teachers.

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Special Thanks:

First, I would like to thank God for giving me the talent to use in a positive and inspirational way as well as blessings I have and continue to receive in my personal life.  Then I would like to thank my family and friends for being there from day one of my musical growth and supporting me in various ways.

Thanks to my primary teachers: David Fivecoate (7th-11th grade), Cynthia Sikes (12th) and Michael Jacobson (Baylor).  I would also like to thank Larry "T-Byrd" Gordon (LaMe' Records) and Scott Calloway for the generosity of time and resources in recording, editing and mixing this CD, and Roger Morgan for the photography work on the CD.

Last but not least, I would like to extend much gratitude to Southern Music Company for allowing me to record all 48 etudes for compact disc.

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Sound Clips

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Ordering Information

Mail a check or money order for $ 17.50 ($15.00 + $2.50 shipping/handling) to:

Roy Allen, Jr.
3767 Forest Lane. Ste 124-1,241
Dallas, Tx 75244

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