12 Moons Solo Saxophone Project Day 90

Date: 03/31/2013

Instrument: Tenor saxophone

Location: Home studio in Clinton, WA (Whidbey Island)

Notes:

In preparation for a performance later in the day, I began this morning with an improvisation focused on a very clear center of action. I played as quietly as possible in the mid altissimo range. This is a difficult area of the horn, made more so when a low volume is needed. Many of my improvisations use a single fingering that elicits a larger chord, but In this piece the single fingering does not play a chord, but rather creates four individual pitches.

The fingering is as follows: (Left Hand) B-G keys, Octave, Palm Eb, Low B // (Right Hand) E-D keys) Trilling the low F key constantly.

This creates the tenor altissimo pitches C, D and E. I immediately noticed that a gentle slide was possible from the D to E, which I used throughout this piece. A technique I seem to favor is a dualistic shape, and I often take my time to make a transition from a first gesture into the second. I often follow this model whether I’m exploring single notes, rhythm, chords or split tones. I decided to continue with a dualistic shape but to begin a secondary section more abruptly than what is customarily comfortable for me. I used the same fingering with a loosened embouchure shape to speak a muted middle octave D. I decided to use this element near the mid point of the piece, but to transition in and out of it quickly instead of gradually allowing it to evolve.

-Neil

The image “Highways and Byways” accompanying today’s post by Paul Klee