03/14/2013 (12 Moons Solo Project Day 73)

12 Moons Solo Saxophone Project Day 73

Date: 03/14/2013

Instrument: Tenor saxophone

Location: Practice Room B at South Whidbey High School.  Langley, WA (Whidbey Island)

Notes:

Today I explored my instrument to find a gesture, sound, rhythm, melody, etc. that when augmented in a slight way could become something quite different altogether.  In this improvisation I attempted to explore this idea in terms of duplicity, and to balance the two opposing worlds in equal measure.   The two worlds are fundamentally different.  The first uses only a simple single note melody, and the second becomes a coursing, undulating world of chords.  The only fingering difference between the two included adding the octave key to create the second world. It’s also of some note to say that there was a harpsichord in the room with me today. Though, as per the nature of this instrument there was little to almost no sustain in the strings as a result of my playing.

World 1 (pure pitches)

A grouping of 4 fingerings that created the concert key pitches G–C (quarter step low)–G–Bb.  The fingerings were as follows:

1.  (Left Hand) B-A keys, Low B // (Right Hand) F-E

2.  Same as fingering 1, but add the Palm Eb

3.  Same as fingering 1

4.  Same as fingering 1, but add the Side C

World 2 (chordal sounds)

Same fingerings and order as above, but add octave key

-Neil

The image accompanying today’s post by Mark Rothko.