Nin, Joaquin - Le Chant de Veilleur
Quartal harmonies asserted by the piano form the introduction of this short work by Joaquin Nin, a relatively obscure (and incestuous) Cuban composer. A robust rubato feel is established from the outset. The opening folk tune melody on saxophone is a sort of more masculine version of Vaughan Williams 'Six Studies in English Folk Song'. 'The Song of the Watchman' then continues as the mezzo-soprano enters with sweeping and more emotionally robust lines. A piano interlude mimics the beginning before saxophone and voice duet, though the saxophone really plays a mostly subservient countermelody. Structurally the piece is interesting, the saxophone melody almost serves as an extended second introduction, like a drawn out opening to a classical concerto before the dominant voice takes (and remains to the end) centre stage. What initially sounds like another saxophone piece transforms into unusual chamber music. Londeix recorded this piece (with ladles of vibrato) on his Le Saxophone Francais album.