Mood - Alto Saxophone and French Horn
Mood for alto saxophone and French horn was written for Dr. Jennifer Blackwell and Mr. Brian Kavolius-Matherne. I was honored to have Jen and Brian participate in the entire creative process, from start to finish. Together, we brainstormed what medium could bridge art and music and represent the aloha spirit. We decided that street art in Kakaʻako would be an excellent starting point. After I submitted an initial draft of the piece, they offered suggestions on specific phrases that might sound better one octave lower, and Brian also suggested an alternative ending. This kind of collaboration is luxurious for any composer.
This piece was inspired by Ms. Kris Goto's mural entitled Mood. Immediately I was drawn into the mysterious atmosphere and the romantic presence of the closed-eyed girl with two fish winding between her hair. To understand Ms. Goto's mural better, she kindly wrote me the following statement:
“I did this piece on a small hard paperback in 2013. I revisited the piece in 2019 so that I could give them a larger surface to swim in. Also, I felt like she deserved more attention. Personally, this is one of many pieces I've worked on that changes its meaning from time to time. I was originally inspired to make this piece in 2013 to illustrate what it felt like to be distracted from what you need to do in life to get to where you need to be. It was right around the time I decided to become a full-time artist - a scary transition I need to take. In hindsight, I'm grateful that I jumped. When I worked on the mural in 2019, it was telling me to chill out and take a break - swim with the fishes and let the current take you. Very different from back in 2013.”
I wrote two contrasting passages with different tempos and characters representing the two fish. Because of the nature of the mural, the melodies in this piece are primarily diatonic and “sweet” while still attempting to create some tension of dramatic moments. I am gradually studying to become a risk-taker, just like Ms. Kris Goto.