Rise
Instrumentation: alto saxophone & piano
Length: 9 minutes
Premiere: Jonathan Hulting-Cohen & Nicholas Sheneyfelt, 18 February 2018, Luther College, Decorah, IA
Commission: Jonathan Hulting-Cohen and a consortium of saxophonists
Program Note: “Rise” explores the numerous resonances and timbres of the alto saxophone in the way that a vocalist explores the nuanced vocal qualities and expressive micro-variations in sound color at the far reaches of their own voice. The piano serves to magnify these subtle color shifts by treating the piano as a resonator for the saxophone; much like the sympathetic strings on a Norwegian hardanger fiddle create a spectral sound bed for the fiddle, the pianist actively triggers continuous magnetized drones to timbrally support and conflict with the saxophone's vocal lines.