New Piece - Dans le Délire de l'Inutile for Soprano Sax and Piano - Quartertones

Not to take away any of David Seidel's thunder!

I've finished a new piece which I wrote for Brian Kauth for soprano
saxophone and piano called Dans le Délire de l'Inutile. It's my first
microtonal piece for non-electronic instruments and it features
quartertones throughout! I think it's one of my best pieces, not only
for its relaxed groove, but because of the totally new harmonies that
these quartertones provide.

The title, which is from a poem by Robert Desnos came to us as we
watched online the beginning of our national descent into economic
chaos. It means, literally, 'in the delirium of uselessness.'

Here's an MP3 of a synthesized realization that isn't too shabby. And
I'll keep you guys informed about the premiere!

http://www.harrington.lunarpages.com/mp3/Jeff-Harrington-Dans_le_Delire_de_lInutile_for_Soprano_Sax_and_Piano.mp3

This is great, Jeff! I like the groove and the harmonies very much. It's a really decent rendering, too, though I would love to hear it live.

On some of the fast passages the sax sounds a little less like a sax, but that made me think: I bet this would be kinda cool played in an accordion-and-piano version (or maybe even multiple accordions). Someone like Guy Klucevsek could really rock this out.

- Dave

idealordid wrote:
> Not to take away any of David Seidel's thunder! > > I've finished a new piece which I wrote for Brian Kauth for soprano
> saxophone and piano called Dans le D�lire de l'Inutile. It's my first
> microtonal piece for non-electronic instruments and it features
> quartertones throughout! I think it's one of my best pieces, not only
> for its relaxed groove, but because of the totally new harmonies that
> these quartertones provide.
> > The title, which is from a poem by Robert Desnos came to us as we
> watched online the beginning of our national descent into economic
> chaos. It means, literally, 'in the delirium of uselessness.'
> > Here's an MP3 of a synthesized realization that isn't too shabby. And
> I'll keep you guys informed about the premiere!
> > http://www.harrington.lunarpages.com/mp3/Jeff-Harrington-Dans_le_Delire_de_lInutile_for_Soprano_Sax_and_Piano.mp3
> > > > > ------------------------------------
> > Yahoo! Groups Links
> > > > >

Jeff,
Great stuff as always! Can your sax player get that high? Wow! The MP3
is a terrific realization. It was very *realistic*. Often composer's
MIDI versions sound like they are played on a keyboard, but the sax
has great articulation that is very non-pianistic. Nice.

Prent Rodgers

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "idealordid" <jeff@...> wrote:
>
>
> I've finished a new piece which I wrote for Brian Kauth for soprano
> saxophone and piano called Dans le Délire de l'Inutile. It's my
first
> microtonal piece for non-electronic instruments and it features
> quartertones throughout!
>
> http://www.harrington.lunarpages.com/mp3/Jeff-Harrington-
Dans_le_Delire_de_lInutile_for_Soprano_Sax_and_Piano.mp3
>

idealordid wrote:
> Not to take away any of David Seidel's thunder! >
> I've finished a new piece which I wrote for Brian Kauth for soprano
> saxophone and piano called Dans le D�lire de l'Inutile. It's my first
> microtonal piece for non-electronic instruments and it features
> quartertones throughout! I think it's one of my best pieces, not only
> for its relaxed groove, but because of the totally new harmonies that
> these quartertones provide.
> ...

> http://www.harrington.lunarpages.com/mp3/Jeff-Harrington-Dans_le_Delire_de_lInutile_for_Soprano_Sax_and_Piano.mp3
> Nice, and like Prent said, "realistic", and I'm aiming for realism with my own works.

By "quartertones", I assume you mean 24-equal, since there's 12-equal piano involved?

~D.

Thanks Prent! My sax player asked for altissimo register notes. I
had to take one note down out of that whole piece! He asked for
quartertones too. I'm going to write a quartet full of quartertones
in a couple of pieces for them.

My Yamaha EX5R, the microtuning sucks - just quartertones, but the
expressiveness of the instrumental emulations is great. I originally
tried it with the PM sax, but the sampled sax was better.

I guess you guys saw that Johnston won the Donaschauingen prize this
year. Maybe microtuning will finally have its day!

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "Prent Rodgers"
<prentrodgers@...> wrote:
>
> Jeff,
> Great stuff as always! Can your sax player get that high? Wow! The MP3
> is a terrific realization. It was very *realistic*. Often composer's
> MIDI versions sound like they are played on a keyboard, but the sax
> has great articulation that is very non-pianistic. Nice.
>
> Prent Rodgers
>
> --- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, "idealordid" <jeff@> wrote:
> >
> >
> > I've finished a new piece which I wrote for Brian Kauth for soprano
> > saxophone and piano called Dans le Délire de l'Inutile. It's my
> first
> > microtonal piece for non-electronic instruments and it features
> > quartertones throughout!
> >
> > http://www.harrington.lunarpages.com/mp3/Jeff-Harrington-
> Dans_le_Delire_de_lInutile_for_Soprano_Sax_and_Piano.mp3
> >
>

Thanks Danny. Yeah the piano is normal, only the sax is asked to play
quartertones.

--- In MakeMicroMusic@yahoogroups.com, Danny Wier <dawiertx@...> wrote:
>
> idealordid wrote:
> > Not to take away any of David Seidel's thunder!
> >
> > I've finished a new piece which I wrote for Brian Kauth for soprano
> > saxophone and piano called Dans le Délire de l'Inutile. It's my first
> > microtonal piece for non-electronic instruments and it features
> > quartertones throughout! I think it's one of my best pieces, not only
> > for its relaxed groove, but because of the totally new harmonies that
> > these quartertones provide.
> >
>
> ...
>
> >
http://www.harrington.lunarpages.com/mp3/Jeff-Harrington-Dans_le_Delire_de_lInutile_for_Soprano_Sax_and_Piano.mp3
> >
>
> Nice, and like Prent said, "realistic", and I'm aiming for realism with
> my own works.
>
> By "quartertones", I assume you mean 24-equal, since there's 12-equal
> piano involved?
>
> ~D.
>