Harris, Richard Leigh - Encore IX for alto saxophone (The Mouth of Flowers)
Richard Leigh Harris is a British composer and harpsichord player who writes always with great intention and subtelty. Many of his compositions effectively utilise space and silence, something often lacking in the postmodern age. Previous 'Encores' were written for a variety of instruments including recorder, flute and harpsichord. Although Harris' output for the saxophone is limited in quantity, there is a moving saxophone quartet called Halcyon, which has a similar soundworld to this solo piece.
Encore IX was written in 2005 and was premiered by Neil McGovern this year in Birmingham. This evocative work recalls the assassination of IRA leader Michael Collins in 1922. Collins was in many ways a tragic figure, despite his involvement with the controversial organisation, and had in some ways been pushed into a position of leadership which he was not really suited for. The place where Collins was ambushed and killed was a small Irish town called Bael Na Mblath which translates as 'The Mouth of Flowers', hence the subtitle. The piece is quite subdued and for the most part uses very short musical gestures to construct the mood.
Encore IX was written in 2005 and was premiered by Neil McGovern this year in Birmingham. This evocative work recalls the assassination of IRA leader Michael Collins in 1922. Collins was in many ways a tragic figure, despite his involvement with the controversial organisation, and had in some ways been pushed into a position of leadership which he was not really suited for. The place where Collins was ambushed and killed was a small Irish town called Bael Na Mblath which translates as 'The Mouth of Flowers', hence the subtitle. The piece is quite subdued and for the most part uses very short musical gestures to construct the mood.