Echo of Bennachie (2015)
Saxophone Quartet
This piece was inspired by the range of hills called Bennachie, which has been an important inspiration to me since my early life, having grown up in the land surrounding the hill. I have also chosen to compose it for saxophone quartet, as the alto saxophone is my main instrument.
I composed most of this piece outside, in locations not far from Bennachie, such as Easter Aquhorthies Stone Circle. The importance of these places is that Bennachie is always present in the background. This is also where I got my title ‘Echo of Bennachie’ from, as the piece is not really an actual representation of the mountain, but more a shadow, or an ‘echo’ of it.
The piece is through-composed in terms of overall structure, but I have concentrated on developing some germinal motifs in the piece. Most of it is developed from the very first F drone played on the baritone saxophone.
In general, the piece is very sparse in terms of atmosphere, and I have also used extended techniques such as toneless breaths and key-clicks throughout to help develop this soundscape.
This piece forms the third and final composition in my final undergraduate portfolio.
The score presented here is in C.