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Suite for Saxophone Quartet
I. Circle of Fourths
II. Love Thy Neighbor Tone
III. Modal Fragments
Premiered by the Trinity University Saxophone Quartet on April 28, 2003 at Trinity University
The Suite for Saxophone Quartet was written during the spring and summer of 2002
for the Trinity University Saxophone Quartet. The suite is divided into three
independent movements, each of which has its own distinct character.
The opening movement, Circle of Fourths, is based on a melody that follows the pattern of
the circle of fourths. This melody includes all twelve chromatic pitches and can be
heard in the baritone sax part at the very beginning. The melody then gradually expands
to include the other voices, and a weaving texture is formed. The rhythms become more
frenzied as the movement progresses.
Love Thy Neighbor Tone focuses on neighbor tones of various pitches. Neighbor tones are
defined as the pitches that are a step above and below a certain pitch. This movement
also features pitch bending with the saxophones.
Modal Fragments features fragments of scales in an array of textures including light and
pointillistic, harsh and robust, and even smooth and flowing. There are several metric
modulations which use rhythmic devices to smoothly shift from one tempo to another. This
movement also gradually becomes more frenzied leading to the utterly chaotic ending.
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