Omie Speaks
Nissim Schaul
About this work:
What exactly she's saying doesn't matter all that much. My cousin, before I was born, interviewed my great-grandmother about her (our) family history. I was recently asked to digitize the tape, and decided to use her voice as the basis of a piece. I've taken three location words from the tape, disguised them, and turned them into the bed for a 10-minute sax quartet.
The score reflects my interest in directed improvisation: large sections of the work present the ensemble with several cells to play in whichever order pleases them. It's a demanding task, as they must improvise while listening to each other, and also the tape, which waits for nobody.
Year composed: 2008
Duration: 00:10:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Other Combinations, 2-5 players
Instrumentation: 1 Soprano Saxophone, 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Tenor Saxophone, 1 Baritone Saxophone, 1 Prerecorded Sound (Tape/CD/Other)