John Boda (1922-2002) was a highly accomplished pianist, conductor, composer, and professor. His diverse musical talents and eclectic hobbies defined him and influenced countless students, colleagues, friends and family members. During his long and productive music career, he taught at The Florida State University for fifty-three years and wrote more than 150 compositions for every genre except opera. This study explores the life and music of Boda with particular attention given to his saxophone works.
Despite his success, many of Boda’s compositions are unpublished and unrecognized for their merit. Of the four pieces he wrote for the saxophone, Perambulations (1977), Forest Sounds and Dance (1982), Concert Piece (1982), and Two Movements for Saxophone Quartet (1983), none are published and only two are listed in A Comprehensive Guide to the Saxophone Repertoire 1844-2003 by Jean-Marie Londeix. These works are valuable additions to the saxophone repertoire and warrant awareness within the saxophone community.
Chapter One is a biography of John Boda, focusing on his musicianship. Chapter Two is a summary of Boda’s compositional style at various stages throughout his career. Many compositions are referenced to illustrate the continuity of structure and form in his pieces. Chapters Three, Four, Five, and Six, respectively, examine each of Boda’s four saxophone works. A historical background and stylistic overview are given for each piece and musical examples are taken from original manuscripts.
