Concertino for alto saxophone and string orchestra; 1st version 1938, reconstructed in 1947, 2nd version 1977-78.

One of the most popular and most often performed of Palester’s works. It exists in two versions.

Palester wrote the first version during his stay in the south of France (Hendaye) and Corsica with the saxophone virtuoso, Siguard Raschen, in mind. This version, barely fifteen minutes long, consists of two movements: Capriccio and Introduction et Allegro. The score of Concertino was lost during WWII, but the composer reconstructed it in 1947, using the surviving piano score. The second version, slightly longer, in one movement only , was written between 1977 and 1978. This version of Concertino was premiered in Nowa Huta on 28 May 1981 by David Pituch as the soloist and Capella Cracoviensis under Stanisław Gałoński.

Concertino for alto saxophone is one of Palester’s most representative works from his neo-classical period. The virtuosic, spectacular part of the solo instrument and the clear texture of the accompanying orchestra combine to evoke the work’s cheerful atmosphere. We can also find references to the sonata form in both movements of the work.