Catango 5 by Jodie Blackshaw

Details

Description

For Professional Saxophone Quartet and Grade 4 Wind Band

Featuring the Joseph Lallo saxophone quartet and the Eltham High School Wind Symphony, guest conducted by Dr. Joanne Heaton

PROGRAM NOTE:
Catango 5 is a playful, tango-inspired work composed especially for senior wind ensemble and a professional saxophone quartet. Instead of taking a more traditional concerto grosso viewpoint with this work (i.e. solo quartet with accompanying ensemble), I have placed the quartet under the guise of mentors and infused much of their playing alongside that of the ensemble. The four members of the original quartet for which this was written, the Nexas Saxophone Quartet (www.nexasquartet.com) have vibrant personalities and this is most certainly demonstrated in their approach to playing the saxophone. With this in mind, components of Catango 5 are built around imaginary feline characters largely inspired by the personality traits observed in the 5 cats I have owned in this lifetime. Placing personality into your playing can be a challenging aspect of musicianship hence, I have written the work to also include mentoring opportunities between the visiting quartet and the wind band by way of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass voicings that work in cohesion. The quartet thus have the opportunity to work alongside high school players and help them break through an all-important membrane: finding a freedom in their instrumental approach that is both expressive and personal. At the centre of the work is a vibrant, virtuosic moment for the quartet to shine with all players on Soprano Saxophone. This represents the feline dream state – a place to be safe and free.

CHARACTERS IN THE SCORE
At first perusal, it will strike you that few ‘musical’ terms used. Instead, there is a reference to various characters.
Five to be exact:

1. “A lonely, hungry, no-name cat.”

2. “Machiavellian cat.”
“Men judge generally more by the eye than by the hand, for everyone can see and few can feel. Everyone sees what you appear to be, few really know what you are.”
Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527)

3. “The cat who dreams like Alice.”
“Imagination is the only weapon in the war against reality.”
Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

4. “Nimrod, the hunting cat.”
The name Nimrod comes from the Hebrew verb marad, meaning “rebel.”
In Genesis 10:8-11 of the Old Testament we learn that “Nimrod” established a kingdom. He was described as a fierce hunter “Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD.”

5. “Cat. Shaken, not stirred.”
The famous character whom we know now as James Bond was created by Ian Fleming. I make this cryptic reference as I imagine the cat who struts their stuff after a good meal, a successful hunt or perhaps even just a warm cuddle. They are not afraid to express their confidence and self-assurance, much like agent 007…

THE ROLE OF THE QUARTET – PLAYING WITH CHARACTER
I have envisaged the quartet as 4 (outstanding) lead players within the ensemble itself, rather than adopt the usual Concerto Grosso model. Hence, the quartet is often playing the same lines as those in other sections. We all know the power of a strong lead player in an ensemble and how much influence that player can have on the rest of the section. It is my wish that this experience inspires school students in the ensemble to push harder and be more articulate and refined in their approach to playing music on their instrument. (You don’t know what you don’t know, and sometimes it takes working with someone who is much better than you, to push you out of your comfort zone and reach a new level of comprehension and proficiency).

The mentoring role is also designed to address the detail in the work. The goal being to enable student musicians to understand the fundamental importance of playing with an agreed approach to articulation, with unison slurring patterns (that have been meticulously included!) and with a matched energy and character. This is a Grade 4 wind band work - they are ready for this kind of challenge! I have also included references to literary characters (Machiavelli, Alice (in Wonderland), Nimrod and James Bond – more information above) as I believe the strength of these characters can be explored musically. The quartet will instinctively play with a great sense of vitality and spirit and it is my desire that the quartet draws upon characteristics of these literary giants to inspire their playing - and teach students how to do the same. Music is SO much more than loud and softs, shorts and longs, there needs to be character!