Concerto · 2024
{Not} Letting Go
Saxophone with string ensemble (originally written for orchestra)
Movements
I. The first movement of this concerto for improvising saxophonist and strings is the most melodic. Before anything else, I felt the saxophone is an instrument of melody. The piece was commissioned by Idit Shner, who plays both classical and jazz equally naturally, which gave my imagination a lot to work with. During rehearsals, we came to the question of which mouthpiece to use — classical or jazz. I wanted to leave the choice to her, so I was very happy when she chose the jazz one.
II. This movement was born when I fell in love with the multiphonics the saxophone produces while playing tremolos. I couldn't stop listening to this sound, which overwhelmed me with its nature — almost electronic, yet so fragile. It naturally connects with an American-style minimalist sound, though coloured, as always, by my own harmonies.
III. As a composer, I challenged everything my training had taught me: the saxophone part of this movement is fully improvised. The chords are given, and the string parts are fully written out. The soloist has musical instructions on how to build a dramatic story based on the melody that closes the first movement.
Commissioned by Idit Shner. World premiere, 16 March 2024, North American Saxophone Alliance national conference, Stillwater, Oklahoma.
Idit Shner, saxophone · Hal Grossman & Hannah Willard, violins · Arnaud Ghillebaert, viola · Victoria Wolff, cello · Tyler Abbott, bass.
Live recording by David Larsen; sound engineering and mix by Paul K Ward.