They Were Mysterious Guests, Hard to Capture
Zae Munn
About this work:
This three-movement work for alto sax and piano will work well as a recital piece, with demanding parts for both players. The movement titles are:
I. They were mysterious guests, hard to capture
II. If enough hosts weep, the all night dance ceremony is considered a success
III. Recollection
"They were mysterious guests, hard to capture" is a sentence from When Elephants Weep by Jeffrey Masson. The phrase refers to the unbidden nature of emotions. It served both as a starting point for the piece and as the basic watchword which focused the musical development of the first movement.
The "all night dance ceremony" is described in Judith Becker's 1986 article "Is Western Art Music Superior?" She describes a ceremonial song performed by talented guests which takes "the hosts on a nostalgic journey intended to touch upon the pain of remembrance and the memory of loss." There is both grief and resolution in this movement.
In the third movement, Recollection, direct and distant quotations and reminiscences recall temperaments from the earlier movements.
Year composed: 1996
Duration: 00:11:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Keyboard plus One Instrument
Instrumentation: 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Piano