Contents: Tango Dreaming, Moon Over Long Reef, Earth-Flowering Time
Program note
A phoenix - is a mythical bird that is a fire spirit with a colourful plumage and a tail of gold and scarlet (or purple, blue, and green according to some legends).
It has a 500 to 1000 year life-cycle, near the end of which it builds itself a nest of twigs that then ignites; both nest and bird burn fiercely and are reduced to ashes, from which a new, young phoenix or phoenix egg arises, reborn anew to live again.
The new phoenix is destined to live as long as its old self.
Wild explores a tonal plateau based primarily around E with other sections centered on A, Bb, and C. Jazz influences are quite evident in the phrase structure and the harmonic implications.
The sections with repeated Es (eg bar 13) should have a raw primal quality, while the rapid passages have a skittering quasi-improvisational character.
Suggested multiphonic fingerings are notated in the score. If they do not reproduce well on your instrument, modifications are acceptable, but must be in keeping with the character of the piece.
I would like to acknowledge James Nightingale for the recommended fingerings and thoughtful and practical suggestions.
