Songs for Claire - Bb saxophone & piano by Keri Degg - Trinity College London Grade 4 Jazz Bb sax exam
Songs for Claire is a moving suite for Bb saxophone and piano depicting the journey through life and the joys, trials, fears, acceptance, and peace that can be present. Written by Keri Degg in 2008 and featuring on the Trinity College Jazz saxophone syllabus from November 2022 ongoing. It was previously published by Spartan Press with catalogue number SP836 (until they ceased trading in early 2023). Watch the full Youtube video here; https://youtu.be/97-MjPGPlIM
A note from the composer - Songs for Claire is intended to portray a life journey, with all the joys and trials that might be encountered. From a personal point it was written in memory of my childhood friend Claire
who sadly died aged ten years old after a long illness. I think most people will be able to
relate to the moods of the three movements and draw from their own life experiences in
order to create the expression desired.
Living Life starts with a pure and innocent piano introduction where life begins. The
performers should aim to replicate this in tone quality and delivery as if seeing life through
the eyes of a child. Bar 71 soars with the sheer joy and exhuberance of new life. The mood
however begins to take a downward turn from bar 91 where uncertainty and unrest becomes
apparent.
Troubled Times takes us further on the journey into testing times. I had a strong feeling that
it should feel like a real emotional battle; trying to stay strong (the sweeter timbral trills) whilst
also fighting doubts and fears. At letter E a real sense of desperation and even anger should
be felt until suddenly at H the timbral trills cease abruptly; an indication that the struggle is
over. The remainder of the movement relaxes into the final peace of the final chapter.
Flying Free revisits the theme (though somewhat reversed) of Living Life as we come full circle;
though now more as an opened out theme in contrast to the rather inward-feeling theme of
Living Life. Again, we embrace the inner purity but now accompanied by a real sense of
peace. Phrases should begin with mainly air from the saxophonist, with the pianist aiming
for a gentle rocking movement. Past emotions occasionally try to break in but by the end of
Flying Free we are able to let go fully and literally float away to a better place...
Flying Free (movement III) features on Trinity College London's Grade 4 Jazz saxophone (Bb and Eb saxophones - group A) syllabus - from November 2022 ongoing (no end date announced). It was formerly published by Spartan Press (with the catalogue number SP836) but at the cease of trading in early 2023 Masquerade Music have taken over ownership of the work. Watch the Youtube video here
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You will receive on purchase; PDF Bb sax part, PDF Piano accompaniment part (with sax line above), full demonstration MP3 audio tracks (soprano sax demo with piano) and accompaniment only MP3 audio tracks (piano only).
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Flying Free (from Songs for Claire - Bb saxophone/piano edition) can be ordered direct from Masquerade Music (UK) as a PDF/MP3 instant download edition here as a 'pocket money priced' publication; https://payhip.com/b/ZCvKz
