Flow is a solo for unaccompanied saxophone composed in 2013 for my dear friend John McCoy. The five-minute work makes use of special effects on the saxophone including growls, slap tonguing, and key clicks all while blending with my compositional style of sound production, and minimalist techniques. These special effects are intertwined into swelling soundscapes, and fluid ostinatos. The work is based on the pitch set [025] which is built in a descending fashion from Bb and then ascending from F to create a [0235] tetrachord on which the melodic material is based. This material is transposed, and altered throughout the work, and serves as the canvas on which the special effects are painted.

Flow

Inspired by the marimba quartets of Christopher Deane, Daniel Levitan, Rüdiger Pawassar, and Owen Clayton Condon; Icebound is a marimba quartet in three movements. The piece draws inspiration from the season of winter, with the frigid temperatures and blizzards seen nationwide throughout 2013-2014, as well as general feelings toward the season. The three movements portray various physical and mental portraits of the season. Flurries (movement I) features a steady ostinato comprised of a four-note "theme," as well as short "sparkling" notes heard throughout the movement. This movement gives an air of anticipation and carefreeness which many associate with the holidays, while suggesting an impending sense of snow storms. The second movement, Crystalline, is inspired by the rigidity and stillness of ice; shimmering and beautiful, yet frigid and unforgiving. The harmonies heard throughout begin pleasantly and songlike, but are eventually distorted, suggesting a sense of abandon and angst. The third movement, Frostbite, gives the listener a sense of longing for the past, with the realization that the only way to move in life is forward. Echoes of prior melodic material are distorted by dissonant harmonies and jagged rhythms.

Marimba Quartet No. 1- Icebound

A minimalist piece for chamber quartet of viola, cello, vibraphone, and piano.

Wind

A solo for multiple percussion focusing on the various sounds and textures found in metallic instruments.

Metallic Resonance III

Tectonics is a solo for marimba written in 2012 for my good friend and colleague Chris Vennel (who also performed for this recording of the piece). 


Ian Grzyb Music