Japanese born Ryo Noda (b. 1948) has been hailed for his forward-looking, avant-garde compositions and innovative playing techniques. Improvisation 1 is no exception. Noda's compositional achievements were significantly recognised in 1973 when he was awarded the SACEM Composition Prize. Improvisation 1 was published a year later, at the height of his career. Exploiting extended techniques on the saxophone to their full potential, Noda provides a score with a written glossary. However, a significant amount of interpretation with regards to tempo, pauses and pitch bends is left to the performer. Improvisation 1 is based on Shakuhachi playing, a Japanese flute made of bamboo, tuned to the minor pentatonic scale. For all saxophonists, Noda's Improvisation 1 is an excellent, varied addition to advanced repertoires.
