Silent Sax

Silent Sax is a solemn piece of funeral music. It has a very slow tempo throughout, and is predominantly in a minor key. The tenor saxophone is the main solo instrument, and the strings play a supporting role. The melodies are deeply felt, and are of a somewhat improvised nature. The full range of the saxophone is used, with particular emphasis on the bluesy lower register. The strings carry the rich and dense harmonies, although the double basses play pizzicato and arco simultaneously, giving a degree of lightness.

An unusual glissando of harmonics leads to the central section. Here, the piano takes focus as it plays a brighter theme. Modulations to a major tonality create an uplifting mood, and the cellos and basses are silent, giving the music a sense of airiness. A further key change then guides the piece back to the original theme. This time, the strings are more divided, creating larger and tenser chords. The music also gets louder, and the piano plays counter-melodies along with the saxophone. At the end of the piece, the saxophone has an improvisatory solo, accompanied by simple yet reflective piano chords. The last chord is intentionally open-sounding, as ending on an standard major or minor triad does not represent the mix of emotions present at a funeral service.

Back to works...