Sageic Dances
(2018)
tuba and piano
Duration: c. 4:30
Sageic Dances was written in the spring of 2018, commissioned by renowned tubist Sérgio Carolino. Knowing that I had such a capable artist to write for, I wanted to create something that would be fun to play, while pushing the capabilities of the instrument. As many of us in the tuba world know, the instrument is incredibly diverse in its capabilities, and Sérgio consistently demonstrates this in his playing.
SAGE
(n.) a profoundly wise person, especially one who features in ancient history or legend.
SAGEIC
(adj.) possessing the wise and skillful qualities of a sage.
As the work unfolded during the process of writing, I began to search for an appropriate title. My mind kept coming back to the concept of a confident master effortlessly performing what appears to be daring feats; and like a true master, they were never arrogant or haughty. And so the word ‘sage’ was eventually stumbled on. I chose the form ‘SAGEIC’ as a nod to my companion work Nomadic Dances, the two sharing similar styles and concepts. Sageic Dances is a challenging work for both soloist and accompanist, featuring frequent meter and style changes. It’s an exciting opener or closer for a concert, and ‘audience-friendly.’
Publisher: Cimarron Music Press (available Fall 2018)