Sacred Spaces
Ensemble
E-flat Alto Saxophone (or E-flat Baritone Saxophone) and Piano
Duration
Two movements, approx. 13 minutes
I. The Hermit, approx. 4 minutes
II. The Fool, approx. 9 minutes
Recording
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Score
Notes
Sacred Spaces is my love letter to Tarot. While writing this piece during my first semester of graduate school, I began my journey into Tarot, using it to explore lessons learned and find new directions in my music. The figure of ‘The Hermit’ has been instrumental in helping me listen confidently to my inner voice, while ‘The Fool’ perfectly encapsulates the dynamic journey undertaken in doing so.
In our living room, when I was thirteen or fourteen, there stood a majestic cabinet grand piano with all of these intricate carvings, gifted to us for free despite its broken soundboard. Its eighty-eight keys, flakey with chipped, grimy acrylic and rough, crusted epoxy, produced a unique sound reminiscent of a prepared piano, and it was on this instrument that I spent hours each day improvising. Over time, my hands developed muscle memory for patterns that still appear in my music, some of which consist of simple materials and stay within narrow harmonic boundaries.
Growing up, my grandma helped care for us, tirelessly helping with my mom’s small business with little rest. Yet, there was one thing that would always make her pause and take a breather: my gentle, soothing (seemingly unremarkable) improvisations. Upon hearing the music, she would first stop in her tracks, gradually make her way to the couch, and, if I played long enough, she would rest up for a bit. It was only recently that I came to understand why my grandma found solace in this style of music, which I would often refer to as “music grandma would like,” recognizing the significance it held for her. The clanging, out-of-tune thuds of the piano keys mattered little when the piano’s song served as an invitation for her to put her feet up. I invite you to do the same!
World Premiere
Performed by Lauren Wagner on March 8, 2013 at the University of Wyoming.
Dedicated to
Lauren Wagner
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