The Sharp End

The Sharp End was composed during my 2009-10 residency with the McGill University Saxophone Quartet, under the direction of Abe Kestenberg. Having had ample time to work with the ensemble, to explore their repertoire of music, techniques, and timbres, I set about developing a piece that attempts to take advantage of the “woodwindesque” lyricism and sweetness, as well as the “brassy” power and raucousness of the instruments. Throughout the work, I sought to emulate the sound and syntax of progressive metal-style electric guitar writing, with a preponderance of power chords (open 5ths and their inversions/extensions), ostinati, jagged rhythms, and asymmetrical meters. There is often an implication of a strong backbeat, where an imaginary drumkit would typically carry the rhythmic momentum The Sharp End was premiered by the McGill University Saxophone Quartet on March 27, 2010 in Redpath Hall, Montreal, Canada.