elliptical
for saxophone and ensemble
2023
6’
commissioned by Ryedale Festival
premiered by the Jess Gillam Ensemble
sop. sax. + 2 vn., va., vc., db., pf., vib.
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.