“TRAJECTORY” (for Saxophone Quartet) was commissioned and recorded by the PRISM Saxophone Quartet, Inc. with support from the Pew Center for Arts and Heritage; recorded on Heritage/Evolution by the Prism Saxophone Quartet, Innova (label) 2014

Contemporary jazz and classical saxophonists are more than ever attempting to fuse aspects of each idiom together. One elemental aspect of jazz is the unwritten rule not to repeat anything the same way twice (or more) in a row. Obviously I’m exaggerating, but the attempt in this piece is to find a balance between the proscribed written notes and other musical aspects meant to encourage multiple and instant variation, so that the performers can change certain elements of the so-called text as they see fit.

The four saxophones are given three notes each comprising a twelve tone row. Throughout the piece there are sections where the rhythms and expressive devices are left up to the moment for each saxophonist to vary as they like, sometimes limited to the original pitches, sometimes not. The same goes for the rhythms…there are places where rhythmical variation is left up to each player, but also there are sections where a rhythmic contour is written, but then the pitches can be varied. This is most evident in the section named “VAMP.” Sprinkled through the piece are sections of duos and trios with contrapuntal as well as chorale implications meant to offset the ongoing rhythmic and pitch choice tensions. 

Trajectory:

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Trajectory: ADV 7484 or UPC code 805095074840