Contemporary Woodwinds

When one hears the word “saxophone,” their mind might wander more toward jazz than classical music. However, saxophonist Steven Banks is trying to change this perception and is striving to bring his instrument to the heart of the classical music world. He does this not only through his mastery of existing classical saxophone repertoire but also by writing his own music.

In 2020, Banks composed “Come As You Are,” a four-movement work for saxophone and piano inspired by and dedicated to his family: his mother and three sisters. In his program notes, Banks describes the music as exploring the influence of his upbringing on how he understands music and life in general.

Banks says that when approaching this piece, he knew that it needed to be influenced by African-American church music in some way. He recalls that his grandfather was a pastor in the African Methodist Episcopal church, and the church was at the center of much of his musical journey at the start.

Each of the piece’s four movements is dedicated to a different family member and takes inspiration from their favorite spirituals or sacred songs. Banks says his mother chose “I Still Have Joy,” while his three sisters, Kharma, Jennifer, and Ashley, chose “His Eye is On the Sparrow,” “My Lord, What a Morning,” and “Wade in the Water,” respectively. In this sense, Banks says the core of this piece is an expanded arrangement, or setting, of these four songs.

It’s part of an all-contemporary woodwind program that includes performances by ASU faculty members of works by Amanda Harberg and David Maslanka.