Dance No. 4 for Saxophones (2004)

The composer writes: This piece for saxophone quartet is an arrangement of the fourth movement of my Quartet of Dances (2004), for string quartet.

The short, lively piece adheres to no established form or genre: it is not a waltz, a tango, a foxtrot, or any other specific kind of dance. I call it a “dance” because it is essentially rhythmic rather than melodic in its conception, with an irregular yet emphatic pulse throughout.

As well, the piece comes with its own built-in little manifesto: there is too much seriousness in contemporary music. I claim no exemption from my own criticism, as some of my own works unabashedly strive for profundity and gravity. But in this piece, I have tried to inject some joie de vivre into new music.

Link to performance video on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrAInBz2O1I