Saxospheres: Music for Soprano Saxophone and Electronics

Two works for soprano and electronics by women composers from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres : Penelope’s Song by Judith Shatin and Egyptian Wish by Katy Abbot of Australia.

Biography

Dr. Shirley Diamond is an active performer and educator currently on faculty at Walla Walla University in Washington state. Previously, she has served on faculty at Central Washington University, Whitman College, University of Alaska – Fairbanks, Trinity Western University, Douglas College and Kwantlen University College. An expert on saxophone music of the former Soviet Union and Russia, she is currently working on commissioning works for saxophone and computer/electronics. Dr. Diamond has made concert appearances throughout the United States, Western Canada and Europe. Dr. Diamond holds degrees in saxophone performance from the University of British Columbia, the University of Texas at Austin and Indiana University. She studied with Harvey Pittel and Eugene Rousseau, among others.

More information

This performance will showcase two works for soprano saxophone and electronics (CD) by women composers from the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
The first work is Penelope’s Song (2007) (dur. 9′) by Judith Shatin of the United States. Penelope’s Song was inspired by Homer’s epic, the Odyssey. The electronics were created from the sounds of wooden weaving looms processed using RTcmix software.
The second work is Egyptian Wish (2002) (dur. 8′) by Katy Abbot of Australia. The initial inspiration for this work came from the composer’s experience of travelling in the Middle East and in particular hearing the regular prayer calls that were sung and amplified over the cities throughout the day.
It is fascinating to see these two works for soprano saxophone and electronics inspired by themes of the Middle East by two women composers residing in opposite hemispheres.