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A blog series on women composers from the past and present

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Timbre, Titles, and Inexplicit Influences: Blair Boyd on Composing Dim shapes grow clearer for alto saxophone and piano

12/8/2021

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As part of my previous contributions to the Illuminate Women’s Music blog, I have discussed my compositional practice more generally within the context of several pieces. However, for this third article, I would like to focus on aspects of a single piece, Dim shapes grow clearer for alto saxophone and piano, which is programmed as part of Illuminate’s 2021 concert series.
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One of the features of Dim shapes grow clearer is the exploration of sustained pitches through alterations of dynamics and timbre. Particularly at the beginning of the piece, long notes which are held by the saxophone come alive through the use of extended playing techniques which alter the tone colour of a note. Flutter-tonguing, a playing technique in which the performer uses a rolling movement of the tongue to manipulate a note, is introduced near the beginning of the piece.
The static opening of the piece is interrupted by a 4-note descending figure in the saxophone. The stepwise motif, simply a descending natural minor scale, is well known from John Dowland’s lute song Flow my Tears and symbolized grief in Elizabethan music. Performed and recorded by early music specialists and pop stars alike, Dowland’s song has served as inspiration for artists for centuries and can be heard via the link below:
While the ‘falling tears’ motif contributed to the initial development of Dim shapes grow clearer, its inspiration is not obvious in the final composition. This is something that is very interesting to me as a composer: how initial impetuses evolve or how several unrelated influences can combine in a musical work to form something unique. Sometimes to even mention such inexplicit influences in a piece would be distracting to a listener, as one would try to pick them out while listening; I mention them here as an interesting topic for the purposes of this blog. While further statements of the ‘falling tears’ motif are quickly abandoned in my saxophone and piano duo, the sombre tone remains, yet somehow more resigned.

To continue the piece, sustained pitches are ornamented in the saxophone while chords sound, striking like clock chimes, at the bottom of the piano's register where pitches are less distinct and blur together. It is this repetitive feature of the piece from which its title comes — with each repetition not only does the material become more familiar, but it also delineates the passage of time. Sometimes choosing the title of a piece is easy, for instance in a vocal piece with a preexisting text; however, I often find deciding titles very difficult as a composer. A title is very important for the reception of a piece, and it can be very difficult to overcome a disconnect between a title and how a musical work sounds. True to form, much contemplation was given to the title of my saxophone and piano duet, and I hope it contributes positively to the impact of the work.

As an alumna of Cardiff University, I am incredibly excited to close our 2021 season with a performance of Dim shapes grow clearer given by saxophonist Naomi Sullivan and pianist Kumi Matsuo on Tuesday, December 14th at Cardiff University Concert Hall.

To read more about my music check out my previous contributions to the Illuminate Women’s Music blog here: https://www.illuminatewomensmusic.co.uk/illuminate-blog/blair- boyd-my-recent-compositional-obsessions
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And here: https://www.illuminatewomensmusic.co.uk/illuminate-blog/march-11th-2019 To hear my music check out my Soundcloud page: https://soundcloud.com/blair-boyd-4
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    Authors


    Dr Helen Thomas
    Dr Rhian Davies
    ​Dr Laura Dallman
    ​Alex Burns
    ​Dr Gemma McGregor
    ​Sarah Westwood
    Carol J Jones
    Dr Blair Boyd
    Dr Angela Elizabeth Slater
    Laura Shipsey
    Kerensa Briggs
    Dr Kendra Leonard
    Elizabeth de Brito

    Dr Steph Power
    Lara Poe
    ​Nina Danon
    ​Sabina Pena Young
    Mason Bynes

    Composers
    Morfydd Owen
    Libby Larsen
    Lili Boulanger
    Louise Marie Simon
    Amy Beach
    Sarah Westwood
    Carol J Jones
    Arlene Sierra
    Gemma McGregor
    Angela Elizabeth Slater
    ​Clara 
    Schumann
    ​
    Hélène de Montgeroult
    ​Blair Boyd
    ​Fumiko Miyachi
    Grażyna Bacewicz
    ​
    Hilda Jerea
    ​
    Jennifer Higdon
    ​Thea Musgrave
    ​Elizabeth Maconchy
    ​
    Laura Shipsey
    Kerensa Briggs
    Caroline Bordignon
    ​Vivian Fine
    Barbara Strozzi
    Joanna Ward
    Yfat Soul Zisso
    Angela Elizabeth Slater (vid)
    Blair Boyd (vid)
    Sarah Westwood (vid)
    ​Kaija Saariaho
    Ailsa Dixon
    ​
    Charlotte Bray
    ​Angela Elizabeth Slater - blog on Suncatcher
    ​Steph Power
    Lara Poe
    ​Nina Danon
    Amanda Aldridge
    ​Carrie Jacob Bonds

    ​Sabina Pena Young
    Mason Bynes

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  • Home
  • About
    • Illuminate
  • What's On!
    • Illuminate Scotland tour
    • Support Illuminate Women's Music
  • Illuminate Scotland Artists
  • Illuminate Blog
  • Past Illuminate Women's Music series
    • Illuminate performers Spring 2023
    • Illuminate composers Spring 2023
    • Illuminate Video premieres
    • Illuminate 2022 concerts
    • Illuminate 2021 artists >
      • Illuminate 2021 Artists Season I
      • Illuminate Season II Artists 2021
      • Illuminate Spring 2023 - What's on!
    • Whats on 2021 Season I and II
    • 2020 Season I Artists
    • Digital artists >
      • Digital series - What's On
    • Illuminate at RCM 2020
    • Illuminate Extra at Nottingham!
    • Illuminate 2019 Season II concert series >
      • Illuminate at RCM 2019
      • 2019 Season II Artists
      • 2019 Season II What's Was On!
      • Season II Composer interview videos
    • Illuminate 2019 Season I Concert series >
      • 2019 Season I What's Was On!
      • 2019 Season I Artists
      • Gallery of 2019 Season I concerts
      • Season I 2019 Video gallery
    • 2018 Illuminate touring concert series >
      • Performers (2018)
      • Composers (2018)
      • Gallery of Illuminate 2018 concert series
      • Videos from Illuminate 2018 concert series
      • 2018 - What Was On!
  • Contact
  • Digital concert on 20th November