The Dance of the Blessed Spirits is a full length CD featuring Daniel Rubinoff, saxophones, and Christopher Dawes, organ. The CD was recorded at historic St. James Cathedral in Toronto and it was produced and engineered by Anton Kwiatkowski, one of Canada’s most respected classical music producers.

The music comes from a variety of musical eras and evokes meditative, romantic and joyous moods. Composers such as Gluck, Telemann, Bruch, and Fauré are featured.

There are two Canadian works on this CD as well. Kingston composer John Burge wrote “The Blues of a Chagall Window” for the Rubinoff/Dawes Duo in 2002. In the same year, the work was premiered at St. James Cathedral as part of the Cathedral’s Summer Music Series. Denis Bédard’s evocative Sonata No. 1 for saxophone and organ is also included. Bédard is a prolific organist/composer from Quebec whose music appeals to many different audiences because it is melodically accessible and structurally elegant.

This is the first Canadian Cd of saxophone/organ music which features original compositions for this combination. The saxophone is the ideal wind instrument partner for the organ, because of its incredible carrying power. Organist Chris Dawes expressed it in this way: “When performing with the saxophone, I feel I can fully exploit the tonal resources of the organ…”. Further, the saxophone’s single resonating reed and conical shape, conform to the characteristics of the organ’s reed family of pipes.

EUGENE BOZZA

1. Chanson à Bercer

2. Gavotte des Damoiselles

GABRIEL FAURE

3. Pavane

GEORG PHILIP TELEMANN

4-8. Musique Héroique

GEORGES BIZET

9. Intermezzo

CHRISTOPH W. VON GLUCK

10. Dance of the Blessed Spirits

MAX BRUCH

11. Kol Nidrei

FRANZ SCHUBERT

12. Serenade

JOHN BURGE

13. The Blues of a Chagull Window

DENIS BEDARD

14-15. Sonata No.1 for Saxophpne & Organ