BEHEMOTH – european premiere

Website(s) : http://scottney.com/ / http://www.ericlausaxophone.com/

BEHEMOTH by Roshanne Etezady is one of the more significant works to be written for baritone saxophone in the last five years and presents the instrument as a truly virtuosic instrument.

Biography

Eric Lau is Associate Professor of Saxophone at the University of New Mexico. An active recitalist, Dr. Lau has performed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. His interest in new music has led to his involvement in the commissioning of new works for saxophone by more than a dozen composers including Gunther Schuller and Michael Colgrass. Eric Lau is a Yamaha Performing Artist and a D’Addario Woodwind Performing Artist.

Scott Ney is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Percussion Studies at the University of New Mexico. Scott is the director of the UNM Contemporary and World Percussion Ensemble, an ensemble committed to performing music of 20th century and contemporary composers as well as traditional music from Mexico, Brazil, Africa, Cuba, and Trinidad.

More information

This proposal is to present the European premiere of Roshanne Etezady’s BEHEMOTH for baritone saxophone and percussion. This work was commissioned by a consortium of 21 saxophone and percussion duos in 2013.

Composer Biography:
As a young musician, Roshanne studied piano and flute, and developed an interest in many different styles of music, from the musicals of Steven Sondheim to the 1980’s power ballads and Europop of her teenage years. One fateful evening evening in 1986, she saw Philip Glass and his ensemble perform as the musical guests on Saturday Night Live. This event marked the beginning of her interest in contemporary classical music, as well as her interest in being a composer herself.
An active teacher, Etezady has taught at the Interlochen Arts Camp, Yale University, Saint Mary’s College, and the Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam. She has given masterclasses at Holy Cross College, the Juilliard School, and the Norfolk Chamber Music Festival.
Etezady holds academic degrees from Northwestern University and Yale University, and she has worked intensively with numerous composers, including William Bolcom, Martin Bresnick, Michael Daugherty, and Ned Rorem. She completed her doctorate at the University of Michigan in March, 2005.

Here is the composer’s description of Behemoth:
“In mythology and apocrypha, the BEHEMOTH is characterized as an enormous land-dwelling beast (and a counterpart to the oceanic Leviathan). It has been suggested that its mighty power represents the power of God, since there is no other who can tame or slay the beast.
Inspired by this imagery, I [composed] a piece for baritone saxophone and percussion duo, lasting approximately 10 minutes. The piece will take advantage of the power, agility, and lyricism of the baritone saxophone, and will primarily draw upon unpitched percussion instruments to create an atmosphere of primordial urgency.“

This piece is one of the more significant works to be written for baritone saxophone in the last five years and presents the instrument as a truly virtuosic instrument. It is also a strong contribution to the repertoire for saxophone and percussion. Including it on the program will add variety to the event and also add a piece for students and colleagues interested if playing baritone saxophone or with percussion.