Program Note
Fortunata Spinning Into Light takes its title from Jeanette Witherspoon’s 1989 postmodern novel Sexing the Cherry, which describes a version of an old fairy tale about twelve dancing princesses. The tale includes the story of Fortunata: “At a dancing school in a remote place, Fortunata teaches her pupils to become points of light.” When a colleague told me of this idea of dancers continually spinning until they turn into light, I decided it was a wonderful concept for a piece, and when Zach Shemon asked me to write a work for the 2014 North American Saxophone Alliance convention, I knew it was a match. I’ve already written a piece for concert flute and pre-recorded alto flute choir, so the idea of a similar model for multiple alto saxophones - in this case, eight saxophone parts in addition to the solo part - felt very comfortable. As a former saxophonist myself, I was overjoyed at the opportunity to explore such a unique, homogenous sound world and to get to work with such a virtuoso collaborator such as Zach.
— Rob Deemer
— Rob Deemer
Reproduction Notice:
This program note may be freely reproduced in concert programs, provided that proper credit is given to the composer.
This program note may be freely reproduced in concert programs, provided that proper credit is given to the composer.