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It Flows (Duet for Alto Saxophone & Marimba)
Genre: Duet for Alto Saxophone & Marimba
# of Players: 2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 8:30
Publisher: C. Alan Publications | Copyright: 2019
Download mp3 | Click on images to left for score sample
Rating:
Price:
$24.00
Item #:
25860
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Notes & Instrumentation
Expressively textural in one moment and relentlessly groovy in the next, It Flows is a challenging and varied work for marimba and alto saxophone that includes polyrhythmic textures, exciting hocketed lines, and soaring saxophone melodies. The constantly evolving harmony and texture keeps the piece fun for both performers and audience.
Genre: Duet for Alto Saxophone & Marimba | # of Players: 2
Level: Medium Difficult | Duration: 8:30
Instrumentation
Alto Saxophone
Marimba (5-octave)
Program NotesIt Flows for saxophone and marimba was commissioned by the Hutchens/Myers Duo in late 2017. It is the second of two “water-themed” pieces written during that period, both of which explore the possibilities afforded by utilizing regular note groups within irregular polyrhythms. The piece includes a reoccurring chordal refrain between each higher-energy section, each time with a slightly different texture on the marimba. As it appears at different speeds at various points in the piece, its textures cross the boundaries between perceivable polyrhythm, simple micropolyphony, and the illusion of sustain, while the saxophone soars above, unlinked to the accompanying rhythmic texture.
This piece was premiered by the commissioning ensemble at the Navy Saxophone Symposium in January 2018.
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Product Reviews
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Percussive Notes New Literature Review
“It Flows” was commissioned by the Hutchens/ Myers Duo in 2017 and subsequently premiered by them in January 2018. The title refers to the “water-theme” of the work, illuminated by a poem in the program notes (written by the composer, I assume). Passages of broken chords in sixteenth note and sextuplet rhythms, saxophone trills, grace-note figures, alternate saxophone fingerings, along with “polyphonic” rolls in the marimba help capture the flowing nature of this piece.
There are also some lovely improvisatory passages for both instruments and an exploration of regular note groupings within irregular polyrhythms — for example, grouping eighth-note quintuplets into fours in the marimba part. I especially enjoy the mid-section of the piece, where it takes on a minimalist quality with a panning saxophone effect à la Steve Reich.
Technically, the marimbist is called upon to perform rotation stroke permutations, various polyrhythms, double stops, fast inner mallet passages, and single-stroke rolls. Not being a saxophonist, I can’t write as well to the difficulty level, but the part includes many fast scalar and arpeggiated patterns, alternate fingerings, and one instance of multi-phonics. Both musicians are required to be very expressive, with lots of dynamic indications and tempo/style/character changes. I recommend “It Flows” for those looking for a musical and technical challenge in an engaging, pleasant-sounding piece.
Joseph Van Hassel
PERCUSSIVE NOTES
VO. 59, NO. 2, APRIL 2021 Joseph Van Hassel on Jun 29th 2022
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