Hot Seat (a.sax & pno)
Rob Smith
About this work:
Hot Seat was written for clarinettist Christopher Neal, for a premiere performance at the 1997 International Clarinet Association Festival, and this version was transcribed for saxophonist Jeremy Justeson. The title refers to the colloquial phrase of "being on the hot seat" or, in other words, finding oneself in a stressful situation. The opening accented tutti chords, separated by lengthy rests, puts the performers instantly "on the hot seat", as does the increasingly active melody that follows. A calm and more lyrical section is found in the middle of the work, but the sensation of being in an uncomfortable position eventually returns, as the piano gradually slips away harmonically from the saxophone.
Year composed: 1997
Duration: 00:08:00
Ensemble type: Chamber or Jazz Ensemble, Without Voice:Keyboard plus One Instrument
Instrumentation: 1 Alto Saxophone, 1 Piano
Instrumentation notes: also for clarinet and piano