elliptical

saxophone and small ensemble

2023 | 6’

sop. sax. + 2 vn., va., vc., db., pf., vib.

• Commissioned by the Ryedale Festival

• Premiered by the Jess Gillam Ensemble

I imagined a music spun in the shape of an ellipse.  As if a sound might orbit around a centre point, moving now closer and then spinning into the distance. This revolving force - say, a saxophone - might pull other sonic objects into its gravity, which each too would rotate in their own elliptical patterns. I imagined these shapes blooming and receding, coming into focus and then drifting away.