Australian Music Centre | Breaking sound barriers

Work Overview

Song, Hands & Stomp is based on the Concerto for Baritone Saxophone, Strings & You. The original work was composed for the 2023 Orange Chamber Music Festival Gala Concert and premiered by soloist Jay Byrnes with the Queensland Chamber Orchestra. Here, the solo baritone part remains almost unchanged but the string parts have been reimagined for piano. The work showcases the broad ranging expressive capabilities of the baritone saxophone and celebrates the singular joy that is live music performance. To this end, the work blurs the distinction between audience and performer. The audience is required to assist in the creation of immersive soundscapes that accompany and influence those on stage.

I - Song

The work opens with a lyrical baritone saxophone cadenza that outlines the concerto's primary thematic material. In this opening, the harmonic series of the baritone saxophone's lowest B is silhouetted by tremolo Ds and As on the piano, these were originally open string interjections from the string orchestra. This sparse soundscape is reinforced by a drone chanted by the audience. Following this, the main theme is announced by soloist and piano; a driving and mixed metre primal dance. The work builds towards a climactic passage that features rapid arpeggios, multiphonics and bisbigliandi in the solo part. Evoking an EDM 'riser and drop', the soloist delivers a momentous harmonic glissando.

II - Hands

Hands create a wash of sounds to commence Movement II. This rain (or rainforest) effect is accompanied by subtle vocalisations from the ensemble and avian harmonic flutters from soloist. Elements from the Movement I theme are reimagined into a new lullaby melody. This lullaby is first stated by the piano and then developed by the baritone saxophone. The movement swells to an appassionato waltz with soloist and piano in lockstep. Finally, the lullaby waltz dissipates into the rainforest wash, a piano solo and baritone multiphonic lead a segue to Movement III.

III- Stomp

Movement III is an angular and chromatic rock anthem powered by the stomping of feet. An opening groove is established by the soloist and soon taken up by the piano, allowing the soloist to explore a range of virtuosic electric guitar inspired sound effects. Soloist and piano unite for a mixed-metre hook, devised from elements of the Movement I theme. The movement is structured around increasingly chromatic episodes from this returning hook. The climax of the work is a full- throttle baritone saxophone cadenza: an eruption of multiphonics, bends, bisbigliandi and squeals that is 'cheered on' by a room full of stomping feet.

Work Details

Year: 2024

Instrumentation: Baritone saxophone, piano, you.

Duration: 17 min.

Difficulty: Advanced

Commission note: Jay Byrnes, Carmen Nieves & the Orange Chamber Music Festival