The Upward Stream - Russell Peck

Russell Peck spent his formative years enjoying the Motown music of the 60’s. His father sang in barbershop quartets and in the Detroit Symphony Chorus. The young Peck began piano at age 5 and trombone in high school. His compositional style is a melding of both popular and classical art music. Although, he is best known for his percussion concerto, he also composed chamber works for saxophone such as Drastic Measures and a quirky tenor saxophone concerto, The Upward Stream. The tenor saxophone is a unique classical instrument. Peck expertly uses its ability to produce large dynamic and timbre extremes. The Upward Stream was commissioned by tenor virtuoso, James Houlik, and premiered in 1985. The entire composition builds momentum throughout its length with only a few pauses. The concerto begins with a soft introduction with fast, lively figures that foreshadow the energy of the 3rd movement. The 2nd movement is a lively scherzo, which ends with a rubato free jazz moment. The 3rd movement immediately develops without any pause restating the main theme and driving to the end like a runaway train.