Zodiac (12 pieces)

solo saxophone
2006
12 pieces: total time 18 minutes.

This collection of works contains 12 pieces each 1-2 pages in length. Written as an introduction to my compositional style, the pieces are gently graded from beginner to a moderate level of difficulty. I usually take my time completing my compositions, but on this occasion all 12 works were written in one afternoon.

Each piece features a short musical idea that is then developed for the remainder of the work. A blues style underpins each composition. As the collection develops, rhythmic complexity increases as do the physical demands of each piece.

About the pieces.
Aries – A short jazz waltz written in a 12 bar blues form. Suitable for a beginning player using a variety of basic rhythms. Taurus – After an introductory 12-bar theme, the piece gradually develops in rhythmic complexity. Using a limited range, the player must incorporate grace notes and triplet rhythms. Gemini – A catchy ‘head’ tune, this 36 bar tune develops on a simple 1-octave descending theme. Cancer – Using very brief thematic material this piece mixes triplets and duple rhythms. Leo – Taking on the role of a walking bass player, the performer must play with feel and groove. Virgo – Featuring larger leaps, this piece begins to challenge the player requiring consistency of attack, good stamina and long phrasing ability. Libra – A straight ahead swing blues with with catchy phrases and some birdesque phrases. Full of familiar riffs, jazz rhythms and a wider range of notes. Scorpio – More like a mini moto perpetuo, there are no breathing spaces in this short work. The player must circular breath or leave out notes while maintaing the flow of the music. Sagittarius – Using a variety of blues scales, the piece focusses on cross-rhythms and is quite relentless from beginning to end. Capricorn – Taking advantage of the full range of the instrument, this piece is first in the collection to feature the gradual harmonic shifting through the use of short repeating phrases. A 12-bar change of style towards the end adds variety before returning to the opening material. Aquarius – Beginning with a 12/8 introduction, the piece features gradually developing rhythms moving through groups of 3, 4 and 5. Pisces – In 5/4 rhythmic grouping is the focus of this short piece. Playing in 4 and then 3 against an underlying 5 beat pulse demands rhythmic consistency from the performer.