The work is based on folk material collected by Bela Bartok and Ahmed Adnan Saygun in 1936.  This particular piece is a set of variations on a Uzun Hava (meter-less folk song) sung by Hatice Deklioglu, 13 years old and illiterate; from the Ankara region.  It requires the playing of the actual audio of Ms. Deklioglu.

Commissioned by the Post-Haste Reed Duo.  This is the live premiere performance from the 2015 Jubilus Festival in Gainesville, FL.

Edward J Hines - Hommage Bartok et Saygun en Turquie: 1936

Soundscapes by Michael Johanson was commissioned by and is dedicated to the Post-Haste Reed Duo formed by saxophonist Sean Fredenburg and bassoonist Javier Rodriguez. I am immensely grateful for the opportunity to collaborate with these distinguished performers and for their dedication in bringing this piece to life.
The title of the first movement, “The Hills of Basilicata,” refers to a stunningly gorgeous, scenic region in southern Italy that I visited in the summer of 2014 as an Artist Resident at the Palazzo Rinaldi Artist Residency located in the charming mountaintop village of Noepoli. The Basilicata region is covered with rolling hills and mountains, many of which are dotted with lovely, picturesque villages, and the region is known for its unspoiled natural beauty – it is replete with wooded areas, forests, clean rivers and pure air. The area is also home to the largest national park in the country and boasts many fascinating historical sites, some of which date back to ancient times. This movement is a musical response to the sense of unbridled excitement and freedom I felt while experiencing the many sights, sounds, and scents of this region as well as the many peaceful, serene moments one can so easily experience in this beautiful part of the world.
“Snowscapes” was written in response to a striking scene I observed through a large glass door on the upper floor of my home while sitting at the piano where I compose. The peaceful aftermath of an intense snowstorm that covered everything with a smooth coat of whiteness left me in awe; I felt a profound sense of stillness and beauty, and I felt the need to respond musically. The movement utilizes extended instrumental techniques such as microtones and multiphonics, which felt to me to be the best means of expressing the serene, reflective state I experienced while gazing out at my snow-covered surroundings.
“Moto Perpetuo,” the third and final movement, is – as one might imagine - a relentless, energetic exploration of momentum-driven musical material.

Mvmt 3: Moto Perpetuo

Mvmt 2: Snowscape

Mvmt 1: The Hills of Basilicata

"Lacrimosa" by Louis Andriessen
Arranged for alto saxophone and bassoon by Jeff Chambers
Post-Haste Reed Duo
Sean Fredenburg, alto saxophone
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon
Recorded live from the 2015 Jubilus Festival, Gainesville, FL

Louis Andriessen - Lacrimosa

"Songs and Dances" Mvmt 2: Aria/Procession
Post-Haste Reed Duo
Sean Fredenburg, soprano saxophone
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon
Recorded live from the 2015 Jubilus Festival, Gainesville, FL

John Steinmetz - Songs and Dances Mvmt 2: Aria/Procession

'TATATATA', by JacobTV
Post-Haste Reed Duo
Sean Fredenburg, tenor saxophone
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon

Jacob TV, TaTaTaTa

'Draconids, for soprano saxophone, bassoon, and live electronics', by Joshua Keeling
Post-Haste Reed Duo
Sean Fredenburg, soprano saxophone
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon

Joshua Keeling, Draconids for soprano saxophone, bassoon and live electronics

Commissioned by the Post-Haste Reed Duo for the 2012 Jubilus Festival.
Text by Denise Levertov (1987)
After Hildegard of Bingen 'O viridissima virga'

World Premiere Performance, February 14, 2012
Gainesville, FL

Joan Crisman, contralto
Michelle Fegeas, Adrianna Rodgers, Alyssa Rodgers, sopranos
Sean Fredenburg, soprano saxophone
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon

Nansi Carroll, The Servant Girl at Emmaus [A Painting by Velazquez]

"Sparkling in the Dark" (2011), by Lawrence Dillon for soprano saxophone, bassoon, and electronics
Post-Haste Reed Duo
Sean Fredenburg, soprano saxophone
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon

Lawrence Dillon, Sparkling in the Dark

'bioMechanics', by Simon Hutchinson
Post-Haste Reed Duo
Sean Fredenburg, soprano and tenor saxophones
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon

Simon Hutchinson, bioMechanics - saxophones, bassoon, and electronics

"Spiritual," by Nansi Carroll - Mvmt 1: Invocation - "I hear music..."
Post-Haste Reed Duo
Sean Fredenburg, soprano saxophone
Javier Rodriguez, bassoon

Premiered at the 2013 Jubilus Festival

Nansi Carroll, Spiritual - Mvmt 1

There aren’t many saxophone and bassoon duos. We first met as students at Louisiana State University. After graduating and losing touch for a few years, the magic of social media and LSU sports brought us together first as friends, then musical colleagues. When we remembered watching our teachers perform together on one particular concert, we were inspired by our non-traditional combination of instruments to perform together. Frustrated by the lack of existing works for our ensemble, we began to arrange existing pieces, and also turned to our composer friends and colleagues and challenged them to write new works for the newly formed Post-Haste Reed Duo.

Our mission is two-fold: to increase the amount of quality chamber music literature for saxophone and bassoon duo, and to encourage young musicians to experiment performing in non-traditional chamber ensembles. We do this when we collaborate with composers towards new works for us that highlight the capabilities of our two instruments individually and together.

We want to continue bridging composers with audiences by motivating young people to participate in new chamber music, either as musicians or as audience members. And we hope that inspiration comes from our efforts to create new music.

Our debut album titled "Beneath a canopy of angels...a river of stars" was released on the Aerocade Music Label in January 2016 and is available at posthasteduo.bandcamp.com and on iTunes, CDBaby, and Amazon.

Visit posthasteduo.com for media and booking information.


PostHasteDuo

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