Saturday's New Music Brandeis concert opened with a startling bang. Eliot Gettegno, a professional musician, wonderfully executed a solo titled "Sketches for Solo Soprano Saxophone," written by Derek Jacoby (GRAD). Gettegno made every note on the saxophone seem completely effortless-you could see the intensity with which he played, watching him push his breath through the instrument. The solo was not merely the same jazz that one often associates with the saxophone, but seemed to have a deeper range.

Separating the evening's two saxophone works was a complicated ensemble work by Justin Rust (GRAD). Jeremy Sagala conducted musicians on flute, oboe, clarinet, percussion, violin, viola, cello and bass. The piece had three movements, all with varying levels of energy.

The dynamic execution of the work featured standout performances by Lydian Quartet members Mary Ruth Ray on viola, Joshua Gordon on cello and Judith Eissenberg on violin. The sound of the bass, played by Tom Van Dyck, added a deep quality to the work. Making each line seem completely unique was the background of Craig McNutt's percussion, which, while distinct from the rest of the instruments, perfectly blended into the piece.

Joseph Johnson's (GRAD) "Wound Too Tight," played by the stellar Radnofsky saxophone quartet, utilized many different moods, tempos and styles. The quartet was composed of professional musicians Philipp Staudlin, Kenneth Radnofsky, Eliot Gattegno and Eric Hewitt. Radnofsky, a professor at the Boston Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory, formed the quartet in 2003, and they have performed all over Boston.

The reason for their widespread acclaim is evident in the passion and precise skill with which they performed. Johnson's piece incorporated trills, staccato, a variety of different tempos and other conventions, which showed the audience the potential of saxophone music.