Song for a Form Carved by Water

for soprano saxophone with drones
2001
8 minutes

When I moved to San Diego in 1999, I arrived by car through the desert. The stark landscape made a powerful impression, and I spent many weekends of subsequent years hiking around the Anza-Borrego desert and beyond. I wrote Song for a Form Carved by Water for the extraordinary saxophonist Alan Lechusza. Hiking towards Calcite Mine along a wash framed by imposing sandstone walls, a bend in the wash forms a natural amphitheater with resonant acoustics. Although we never performed this piece out there, it is in this space where I imagined hearing the music as I wrote the piece.

Two drones are required. The drones may be played by any combination of sustaining instruments, or generated electronically. It is best for the drones to be performed by two or three instruments so that the sound continues without interruption.

8.5×11 PDF score
$10

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