Thierry Escaich b.

1965

 Renowned French composer and organist

 Studied organ and composition at paris conservatory
 Teaches improve and composition at paris conservatory since 1992
 Numerous awards: Prix des Lycéens (2002), the Grand Prix de la Musique symphonique from
the SACEM (2004), and has won the French Victoires de la Musique Composer of the Year
award 3 times (2003, 2006, 2011)
 Composed more than a 100 works
 Passionate for cinematic music (pop influences?)
 Composed soundtrack for the silent film Seventh Heaven by Franze Borzage which was
commissioned by the Louvre

Tango Virtuoso (1991)

 Written in 1991 but premiered in 1992 at the Péniche-Opéra in Paris by the Quatuor Gabriel-
Pierné
 Classified as one of his “pedagogical works”
 More than likely this refers to the stylistic idioms of the piece. Could be considered an etude for
the tango style? Regardless of the purpose of the piece, it has remained a staple in saxophone
literature.

GUILLERMO LAGO b. 1960

 Real name is Willem van Merwijk (Lago is alter ego)

 Born in the village of Bemmel in the Netherlands
 Decided to hack out a living as a musician at age 17 with the saxophone
 Began arranging/composing at age 25 for his own saxophone quartet (Aurelia Saxophone
Quartet)
 Began using Lago as a pseudonym at age 46
 Lago came about due to the Aurelia quartet performing a program with Ville Hiltula
(bandoneon) and Juan Pablo Dobal (piano) how the concert-tango is developing after the death
of its inventor Astor Piazzolla. During this time he realized that he had unique musical ideas and
decided to write two tangos (Pequeñitos/Tonto del Pueblo) under the Spanish name Guillermo
Lago. He decided to use this name when composing as he feels it suits his music perfectly

Ciudades (2011-Current)

 Series of musical sketches based on cities that hold special meaning to Lago
 The movements can be performed as stand alone pieces or as a suite, in which the order of the
movements can be freely chosen.
 Sarajevo is dedicated to Lago’s many friends in the city.