Howl
for saxophone improvisation and electronics
Completed in 2021 while in residence at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation of New Mexico
Written in collaboration with saxophonist David Pope
Duration: 7 minutes
Music available upon request. Please contact me if you're interested in playing the piece.
Note: while originally written for saxophone solo improvisation, the piece can be performed by any instrument.
Sheet music is available in different transpositions if you wish to perform it on an instrument besides tenor sax.
Premiered by David Pope, September 2021
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts Recital Hall
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Written in collaboration with saxophonist David Pope
Duration: 7 minutes
Music available upon request. Please contact me if you're interested in playing the piece.
Note: while originally written for saxophone solo improvisation, the piece can be performed by any instrument.
Sheet music is available in different transpositions if you wish to perform it on an instrument besides tenor sax.
Premiered by David Pope, September 2021
Forbes Center for the Performing Arts Recital Hall
Harrisonburg, Virginia
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Performance by saxophonist David Pope with controlled lighting
Premiere performance by David Pope
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Score Video (electronic part only)
Performance by cellist Peng Guan
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About the piece
Howl was created collaboratively by Eric Guinivan and David Pope. I wanted to approach the creation of the piece like an "improvisation feedback loop" and began by recording David improvising. I then used a granular synthesizer to make digital instruments from three samples of Dave's improv and composed the electronic dreamscape that David improvises with live. Since there's no part written for the performer, it's designed with a lot of space and flexibility so that performers of any experience level can tackle it while also practicing improvisation. I wrote the piece while in residence at the Helene Wurlitzer Foundation in Taos, New Mexico, where a small pack of coyotes lived nearby , inspiring the howling gesture that opens the piece and runs throughout.