Vortex

alto saxophone and electric guitar

duration 6’30”

Vortex (2017) for alto saxophone and electric guitar was composed for my friends and colleagues Drew Whiting and John Mayrose. This energetic piece dives into a world quarter-tone harmonies - the guitar’s G and D strings are detuned - and jagged melodic figures. The title describes the work’s cyclic chord progressions that, especially toward the end of the piece, revolve at an increasingly faster rate. The listener is gradually pulled into a kaleidoscope of driving rhythms, clangorous harmonies, and rock-influenced textures. Vortex was premiered by Whiting and Mayrose in February 2018.

Acquire Score and Parts: Contact emartin1014@gmail.com.