Notes on Human
Commissioned by the University of Missouri Kansas City (UMKC) Saxophone Studio, Human for tenor saxophone and electronics explores several phases of human sound. The various electronic layers dive into a large pool of vocal sounds (breath, singing, various mouth noises) & body percussion.
In my electronic work, I've always found it intriguing to synthesize human sounds in various ways to then craft those collections into narratives. One of the aspects of this work that really inspired me is the timbral play one can have by doubling human sounds with the many vocal attributes of the saxophone. It's a great instrument for mimicking various sounds, which for this work can create an alluring, constantlyevolving dialog between the electronics and the instrument.
Performance Notes:
*Key Clicks (key cl ) – Create a percussive effect by quickly and emphatically pressing the keys on the indicated pitches. No breath is used.
*Slap Tongue (sl.) – create a popping effect on the indicated pitches by pulling the reed away from the mouthpiece with the tongue. The sound is created as a result of the release of suction in the mouth and the popping sound that the reed produces which amplifies as it travels through the horn.
*Flutter Tongue (flz.) – A jackhammer like sound produced by fluttering the tongue (rolling r’s) while playing.
*Other notes: accidentals count for the entire bar.
