Instrumentation: Saxophone Quartet (or Saxophone Sextet – SAATTB)

Duration: 6’00”

Purchase (Quartet Version) – Murphy Music Press

Purchase (Quartet Version) – Digital Download

Purchase (Sextet Version) – Murphy Music Press

Program Note:

Volcanic Ash is a boisterous and lively piece for saxophone quartet, fusing the harmonic language of Middle Eastern music with the form, rhythms, and overall intensity found in heavy metal. The piece features constant meter changes, low open fifth ‘power chords’, and sweeping arpeggios, but is complemented by a calm and reflective chorale. Volcanic Ash was written for Sinta Quartet’s Composition Competition in 2017, taking Dan Graser’s advice of writing a quartet that is “harder, faster, and louder” than my first saxophone quartet, Polar Vortex, in an attempt to challenge the incredibly talented ensemble.