Whirled Music (for alto sax & 5-oct marimba)

Description

SCORE DETAILS

Composer: Matthew Orlovich | Date of Composition: 20 May 2013 | Instrumentation: E-flat alto saxophone and 5-octave marimba | Duration: c. 12 minutes | Commissioned by: Translucent Duo (Sydney, Australia) | Publisher: Waratah Music | Formats: Printed Edition (Score & Parts): WM001 / ISMN 979-0-7202-1500-6; PDF Digital Download (Score & Parts): WM001e / ISMN 979-0-7202-1501-3 | Edition: 1 February 2019

COMPOSER’S NOTE

Whirled Music (for E-flat alto saxophone and 5-octave marimba) was commissioned by Translucent Duo (Bernard Lagana & David Lockeridge) for premiere performance at the Australasian Saxophone & Clarinet Conference 2013, held at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Sydney, NSW, Australia. The US premiere of the work took place in the same year, given by Heterodyne Duo (Nathan Nabb and Brad Meyer) at Stephen F. Austin University, Nacogdoches, Texas. In 2015, the score received its European premiere at Contrasti Festival in Trento, Italy, performed by Slap Duo (Emanuele Dalmaso and Federico Agnello).

Scored in three movements (A-B-A), Whirled Music hits the ground running at a speed of around 120 crotchet beats per minute, faster still if the performers let it have its head. Fuelled by a high octane blend of semiquavers and chromaticism, the music shifts through gears while negotiating twists, turns, dips, climbs and spirals in a virtuosic display of highly energised unison bebop-like arabesques, fast rumba-like grooves and glimpses of clear, delicate lyricism.

During the second movement, the alto saxophone finds itself travelling on a not-too-bumpy, not-too-smooth marimba highway of gently pulsating tuplets, all the while issuing forth a bravura tale which takes us deep into tense, cadenza-like territory and back out again.

The third movement comes to life in musical ‘fits and starts’ before sending us whirling back in time via a shortcut through Movement 1, then on to a brief coda and a race to the finish line.

I warmly thank Translucent Duo for commissioning Whirled Music and for giving its world premiere performance. – MO.

SCORE SAMPLE

VIDEOS

Title: Whirled Music (for E-flat alto saxophone and 5-octave marimba) – Excerpts from Mov. 1, 2 & 3 | Composer: Matthew Orlovich
Performers: Translucent Duo (Bernard Lagana, saxophone and David Lockeridge, marimba).

Title: Whirled Music (for E-flat alto saxophone and 5-octave marimba) | Composer: Matthew Orlovich
Performers: Heterodyne Duo (Nathan Nabb, saxophone and Brad Meyer, marimba).

PERFORMANCES

Some of the known performances of Whirled Music (for E-flat alto saxophone and 5-octave marimba) include:

WEDNESDAY 17 AUGUST 2016
Performers: Translucent Duo (Bernard Lagana, saxophone & David Lockeridge, marimba).
Venue: Recital Hall East, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, NSW, Australia.

SATURDAY 16 APRIL 2016
Performers: Katelyn Stessman (sax) and Bryan Hummel (marimba).
Venue: Werner Recital Hall, College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.

SATURDAY 13 JUNE 2015 ***European Premiere Performance***
Performers: Emanuele Dalmaso (sax) and Federico Agnello (marimba).
Venue: Contrasti Festival – Trento 2015 @ Sala Fondazione Caritro, via Calepino, Trento, Italia

APRIL – MAY 2015
Performers: Translucent Duo (Bernard Lagana, sax; David Lockeridge, marimba).
Venue: “In Sync” Regional Tour (New England).

SUNDAY 4 MAY 2014
Performers: Katie Stessman (alto saxophone) & Bryan Hummel (marimba).
Venue: Sheslow Auditorium – 2507 University Ave., Des Moines, IA, 50338, USA.

FRIDAY 28 MARCH 2014
Performers: Translucent Duo (Bernard Lagana, sax; David Lockeridge, marimba)
Venue: Village Church, 122 Johnston Street, Annandale, NSW, Australia.

WEDNESDAY 25 SEPTEMBER, 2013
Performers: Assoc. Prof. James Romain (sax) & Dr Brad Meyer (marimba).
Venue: Sheslow Auditorium, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER, 2013 (7.30PM). ***US Premiere Performance***
Performers: Heterodyne Duo (Associate Prof. Nathan Nabb, saxophone & Dr Brad Meyer (marimba).
Venue: Cole Concert Hall, Stephen F. Austin State University, 2210 Alumni Drive Nacogdoches, Texas 75962, USA.

SATURDAY 27  – TUESDAY 30 JULY, 2013.
Performers: Translucent Duo: Bernard Lagana (sax) & David Lockeridge (marimba).
Venue: Regional Tour: Griffith, Young & Wagga Wagga.

FRIDAY 12 JULY, 2013 *** World Premiere Performance***
Performers: Translucent Duo (Bernard Lagana, saxophone; David Lockeridge, marimba)
Venue: 2013 Australasian Saxophone & Clarinet Conference, Sydney Conservatorium of Music, Macquarie St., Sydney, NSW, Australia.