Crucible (2014)

for Bb tenor saxophone and piano

 

 

The piece was written for my dear friend Joshua Heaney. The pianist sets the atmosphere throughout the different sections of the

piece, while the saxophonist plays the role of someone struggling with their thoughts. In the opening section, the saxophonist anxiously reveals the thoughts running through his head, while the pianist subtly paints the image of pacing back and forth. In the middle section, the saxophonist calms down to think rationally about his situation, and the shift in the piano emulates stability of thought achieved by the saxophonist. The thoughts begin to race again until towards the end the saxophonist breaks through the barrier of his thoughts and at last sees the truth.