Alto y Claro means high and clear, or loud and clear, as in radio. The melody was formed practising saxophone in a clearing in the woods high above Granada, Spain.

This piece is an original saxophone melody here arranged for solo piano. It has also been performed live in Granada in Paddy’s bar, by the enthusiasts jazz band Entrerrejas.

This piece has the anomaly that it is arranged in G minor, the original alto saxophone key, and not in the original sounding key of Bb minor. I’m sure pianists can appreciate having three less flats in the key signature as a result.

This piece is more cinematographic than theatrical and tells the story of a young man recruited to the war, through to when he turns his back on the carnage and walks away proud of his independence and humanity. It is well suited to other arrangements, for instance viola and cello, or marching band.

The little C minor prelude is a separate piano piece which has become the prelude to Alto y Claro and works well to set the scene.

Pedalling is by ear, except where indicated.

View/download Alto y Claro (Solo piano – 6 pages) – Alto y Claro 

View/download Little C minor prelude (Solo piano – 2 pages)  Little Cm Prelude

This piece can be also viewed as a video. This is a video of the sheet music recorded with Vokoscreen, from Musescore with midi sound.  View on Youtube