Composer · b. 1935
Lawson Lunde
Biography
Lawson Lunde was an American composer and pianist associated with Chicago. The saxophone occupies an important place in his output, with thirteen compositions for the instrument, including six sonatas. His writing combines lyrical melody with rhythmic energy and an individual treatment of traditional musical forms.
His Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano of 1959, dedicated to Cecil Leeson and Brian Minor, became his most frequently performed saxophone sonata. Its three movements move from a fanfare-like opening through a lyrical slow movement to a playful rondo finale.