MAUVE

for saxophone | 10-11’ | 2022

Performable on any member of the saxophone family

Written for and premiered by Christian Sanchez on tenor saxophone at Elmhurst University for Capstone Recital

Difficulty

Moderate - Advanced

(Techniques used include multiphonics, overtone playing, manipulated vibrato and growling)

program note

MAUVE is a work written for the premiering performer, Christian Sanchez, and is performable on any instrument in the saxophone family. This piece explores a more spectral/jazz fusion approach to composition, where the performer is asked to alter the timbral qualities of their instrument and pitch whilst occasionally breaking into spurts of bebop jazz. Mauve is the color of a pale purple, named after the mallow flower. The color is historically significant as the first ever synthetic dye, and was popular at the time for being a color of luxury or beauty. Mauve had a quick rise to popularity, and an equally quick descent, which presents a very human-like expression in my eyes. A rise of pride and ego, and a just as crushing realization of fleeting popularity.

This work utilizes many techniques that alter the timbre of the instrument, such as specific use of vibrato and straight tone, timbral trills, scoops and bends, growling, and even multiphonics. Not for the faint of heart, this work will test the ability of any player that is willing to sink into their own pride as a performer, and allow themselves to exasperate alongside the very instrument they play.