Work in progress

I have continued with my piece for soprano sax and others. The piece, still called Morning Prayer continues to grow in size with more and more hand percussion being added almost every time I work on it. Currently the piece is in four sections, the first three pretty much sent in their length and origination. Each of these first three sections is about six minutes in length resulting in a total time of over 18 minutes.

The first section is in a slow 7/4 with an unceasing drone in the string bass (arco)and pian, ostinatos in the electric bass and vibraphone, and pointillistic percussion. Above all of this is the soprano sax playing meditative lines that make ample use of quarter tones.

The second section is in a fast 11/8, and is basically a reworking of my piece Wasuremono redone for soprano sax. In this section we have strong beat (pulse) laid down by the bongos and drumset with an ostinato in the electric bass.

The third second is in a slow 13/8 and begins with just a few of the hand percussion laying down an almost hypnotic beat. Once this trance inducing rhythm is established, the string bass returns with another drone, this time a minor sixth lower than the drone of the first section. As this section progresses layers are slowly added to the evolving texture. This is where more and more percussion instruments are added, with the soprano sax and vibraphone soloing above this mix.

The fourth section is just a preliminary sketch in in a fast 9/8 + 7/8 pattern.

I am still working out how many sections I want and how I want the piece to come to a close. I originally considered arranging the piece in an ”arch”, id est repeating each second in an A B C B A arrangement or even an A B C D C B A arrangement of the various sections. At this point I have rejected this arrangement with the decision to not repeat/return to the second and third sections. Although I have not completely ruled about a return to the first section. What I am struggling with is how many sections I want to use. Each section will be approximately six minutes in length. I considered having four sections each at six minutes in length for a total time of 24 minutes, one minute for each hour of the day, with each section having a sub-title of Morning, Day, Evening, and Night. But that was simply one organizational idea. Other Ideas have included as many as 12 sections for a length of 72 minutes, about the maximum you can get on a single CD.



In the mean time I whipped out a quick arrangement for a small jazz combo: A jazz arrangement of Chopin's Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No 4. I have taken liberties with the arrangement that will most likely outrage the purists in the world.


Today's Listening list: Mostly just all of my own compositions today. Fugue in E minor, Forlorn Hope, Kiyone's Mood, Nibbles, Ultra Dry, What Ever, Summer Sax, et cetera.



Ursus Demens