Album Notes

Saxophonist Richard Hodges has appeared in concerts and masterclasses in Europe, Canada, and throughout the United States. While specializing in the music of contemporary French composers, he has also premiered works by composers from the United States and Japan. Performances include his debut recital in Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in New York City, and a performance at the World Saxophone Congress in Montreal, Canada. Former teachers include Eugene Rousseau and Lawrence Teal. He has served on the music faculties of Indiana University, Columbia University, and the University of Mississippi, and is the founder and former conductor of the award winning Saxophone Choir of the Youth Orchestra of Central Jersey.

The Road Not Taken: French Saxophone Masterpieces is a collection of some of the most influential and important music in the saxophone repertoire. The title, "The Road Not Taken", comes of course from the famous poem of Robert Frost, but it was also the title of a 1994 New York Times article discussing the life and music of the French composer Charles Koechlin (1867-1950). Koechlin had lived his creative life as he saw fit, with little regard to fame, fortune, or current trends. His music is a reflection of his individuality. This approach to creativity could also be used to describe the entire school of French composition. The "French Sound" as we call it is beautifully unique. The music on this recording would not have existed if the French artistic community had not taken the road that allowed them to find there own voice.