Saxtet Publications (SXP) was established in 1990 by Nigel Wood.
SXP emerged from Saxtet, a saxophone quartet first established in 1985 at the Birmingham Conservatoire. Initially, all SXP’s works were written by Saxtet members, but quickly grew to include arrangements and original compositions by many other composers from all around the world, as well as works for clarinet, flute & oboe. In 2013 Nigel handed over the SXP reins to Tom Bruton, who had worked for SXP since 2001.
The catalogue now contains over 450 works, with many appearing on the saxophone, clarinet & flute syllabi of leading music examining boards including ABRSM and Trinity College London.
SXP also takes active steps to promote excellence; promoting and sponsoring saxophonists and saxophone ensembles throughout the UK and abroad.
Saxtet began life as a saxophone quartet in Birmingham, UK in 1985. The group’s early success came from busking (playing on the street) in their home city. This much maligned activity is a great leveller for musicians. If the group was good, people stopped, if not the worst that happened was your audience melted away.
Soon the group started working other towns and cities, in the UK and abroad. By the time it’s busking life was over the group had played Leicester Square London, Washington Square New York, Berlin, Frankfurt, Cologne and Florence. The group became fully professional and concert tours of Germany, the USA and the Caribbean followed.
Their first CD Montage was recorded in 1990 and in the same year they performed at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe attracting the attention of media and promoters from all over the world leading to a six-week world tour taking in India, Singapore, Borneo, the International Arts Festival in Wellington, New Zealand and Hawaii.
Expansion from quartet to quintet came in 1993 for their second CD Safer Sax, a collection of their own original compositions. It also coincided with the creation of Saxtet Publications, which prints and distributes the player’s pieces to this day.
Saxtet Publications
8 Manfield Way
Northampton
NN3 6NA
UK