This is the first piece I’ve written for saxophone quartet, and it was premiered by ~Nois Quartet on February 5, 2026 at the Peabody Conservatory. It was an interesting challenge, taking on an ensemble made up solely of instruments that I do not play. I have always been fascinated by wind instruments’ ability to flutter between overtones – sometimes, you’ll hear a saxophone playing and not be quite sure what octave it’s supposed to be in! I wanted to use this effect to my advantage in this piece.
Program Notes: I had no particular image or title in mind when writing this piece, but after spending time revising and revising and revising (and revising) it, I started to be reminded of a video I once saw of hundreds of albatrosses gliding over the ocean. I went back to watch it again and was struck by how they are at the same time suspended, motionless, and yet filled with a violent momentum. I have always wanted to go hang gliding, to get a small taste of that thrill, that freedom. That juxtaposition of suspension and momentum is present in the music; I guess it came through subconsciously. Even in the turbulent middle section, there is never an unfortunate crash-landing. Listen for the simple motive of three falling, chromatic notes, and how it picks up momentum, catches thermals, gets tossed around in the wind, drifts aimlessly for a while, and at the very end rises up suddenly, as if to do it all again.
I’m so grateful for this opportunity to work with the ~Nois Saxophone Quartet. The members were all so wonderful and encouraging about the piece, and I hope to stay in touch with them for a while. Stay tuned for a recording of the performance, coming soon! For more information on the piece or to purchase a score, click here.
