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“Eschaton” for Marimba Quartet & Tape was written for AXYS Percussion.
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Inspired by a set of focal siezures I had in my college years, Eschaton is about the fleeting experience of life and the beuty that comes along with that.
Using the track as a “leit-motif” of itself, I use the acoustic/electronic relationship to represent this idea of “eschaton” and feeling of impending doom, against the idea of humanity and life. Similarly, the responsibility of the performers shift in and out of acompanament to the track and vise versa. Using “quasi-minimalistic” textures with the marimbas, the performers create a hocketed, organ-like sound to bathe the track in.
WATERFRONT SKETCHES is a four-movement work inspired by moments and scenes from my many visits to my uncle’s lake house at Lake Anna, Virginia.
Movement I: Drive captures the feeling of the drive from Maryland, which usually takes around three hours. On the way, my family and I listen to lots of classic '80s music. I wanted this movement to reflect both that sound and the hypnotic, trance-like feeling of watching the scenery blur by on the highway. The harmony loosely borrows from “The Boys of Summer” by Don Henley, woven into a minimalist style.
Movement II: Still portrays the lake at night, completely still and silent. It’s a programmatic movement depicting different moments of this calm. It begins at dawn, with light fog or steam rising off the water. As the music progresses, the sun rises, and my family slowly wakes and stirs. The piece ends in a swirl of sixteenth notes, symbolizing the morning coming alive—the sun shining and the water beginning to ripple with movement and boats.
Movement III: Sunbeams evokes the peaceful vibe of sitting by the boathouse, simply enjoying the sun dancing across the rippling water. Echo effects mimic the way sunlight reflects and refracts on the surface, adding a chill, laid-back atmosphere to the music.
Movement IV: Ride is a tribute to the many boat rides I’ve taken over the years—the rush of the water, the wind in my face, the smell of the lake. The middle section slows down with a warm, flowing melody, capturing the feeling of anchoring near the trees to swim and relax. The movement closes triumphantly, as we return to the boat and ride off once more, wind in our hair.
INSTRUMENTATION:
Bb Soprano Saxophone
Eb Alto Saxophone (contains altissimo)
Bb Tenor Saxophone (contains altissimo)
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Featured Works
WAVES is a two movement saxophone quartet inspired by two beaches I have visited.
The first movement is based on Myrtle Beach, SC in March. During this time, the temperature is colder, clouds cover the sky, and the overall color of the beach is grey. The first movement is meant to depict the stark atmosphere of the beach during this time. It focuses on the sounds of the waves and the imagery of the beach.
The second movement is based on Morningstar Beach in St. Thomas. The opening section is meant to illustrate the start of a wave as it builds to eventually crash on the sand. The piece after this is representative of me being in the water, surrounded by a constant flow of water as it pushes and pulls with each wave that crashes and is pulled back into the sea.
INSTRUMENTATION:
Bb Soprano Saxophone
Eb Alto Saxophone
Bb Tenor Saxophone (has altissimo notes)
Eb Baritone Saxophone
“The Beholder” Is a percussion Sextet written for AXYS Percussion. It is the winner of Kentucky’s KMEA Composition Competition.
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To be human is to behold.
Thrown into a world of cruelty and grace, we are creatures expected to act. One moment, a
loss; another, a great joy. All the same, we continue to chart our course toward whatever
tomorrow is. The Beholder explores not only our observations of this world, but our potential
for self-actualization as the observer.
I wrote this piece at a time when I felt lost within myself. When where to look becomes
unclear, it’s easy to find yourself staring into a pit of hopelessness. As many do, I felt a lack of
control over things — not yet realizing the quiet power of choosing where we look.
Ultimately, what you call beauty is yours to behold — if you choose to see it. Where and how
we look is far more up to us than we think.
WATERFRONT SKETCHES is a four-movement work inspired by moments and scenes from my many visits to my uncle’s lake house at Lake Anna, Virginia.
Movement I: Drive captures the feeling of the drive from Maryland, which usually takes around three hours. On the way, my family and I listen to lots of classic '80s music. I wanted this movement to reflect both that sound and the hypnotic, trance-like feeling of watching the scenery blur by on the highway. The harmony loosely borrows from “The Boys of Summer” by Don Henley, woven into a minimalist style.
Movement II: Still portrays the lake at night, completely still and silent. It’s a programmatic movement depicting different moments of this calm. It begins at dawn, with light fog or steam rising off the water. As the music progresses, the sun rises, and my family slowly wakes and stirs. The piece ends in a swirl of sixteenth notes, symbolizing the morning coming alive—the sun shining and the water beginning to ripple with movement and boats.
Movement III: Sunbeams evokes the peaceful vibe of sitting by the boathouse, simply enjoying the sun dancing across the rippling water. Echo effects mimic the way sunlight reflects and refracts on the surface, adding a chill, laid-back atmosphere to the music.
Movement IV: Ride is a tribute to the many boat rides I’ve taken over the years—the rush of the water, the wind in my face, the smell of the lake. The middle section slows down with a warm, flowing melody, capturing the feeling of anchoring near the trees to swim and relax. The movement closes triumphantly, as we return to the boat and ride off once more, wind in our hair.
INSTRUMENTATION:
Bb Soprano Saxophone
Eb Alto Saxophone (contains altissimo)
Bb Tenor Saxophone (contains altissimo)
Eb Baritone Saxophone
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Colin Eng is a Saxophonist, Composer & Educator from Ellicott City, MD.
James Beckner is a percussionist, Composer & Educator from Cincinnati, OH.