Dialogues

for two alto saxophones and fixed media (2020)
Duration: 8’

I. Dialogue I: Concurrence
II. Soliloquy I
III. Dialogue II: Conversation
IV. Soliloquy II
V. Dialogue III: Cacophony

Modern discourse — be it personal, political, or otherwise — is increasingly facilitated through electronics. We speak to each other through video calls, text messages, and social media posts. While these technologies are powerful, they can be also be imprecise, lacking the nuance and fluidity of a live conversation. Too often, this leads to misunderstanding, frustration, or downright incomprehensibility.

This piece mimics such challenges in a musical context. (Or perhaps parodies them.)

It is structured as a series of “dialogues” between two saxophonists. As with any dialogue, the two “conversationalists” differ in personality: one speaks boisterously, the other more lethargically.

But the players are located on opposite ends of the performing space. Thus, their communications must be “mediated” by an electronics part, which travels from left to right, carrying “information” from one player to the other. Inevitably, this information gets distorted in the process — digitized beyond recognition.

In total, the players attempt three dialogues:

  • In the first (Dialogue I: Concurrence) they attempt to speak with each other (that is, in unison). But, because of the imperfection of digital communication, the results are uncoordinated.

  • In the second (Dialogue II: Conversation) they attempt to speak to each other, as in a conversation. But what starts off as a series of casual remarks gradually evolves into a more heated discussion.

  • In the third (Dialogue III: Cacophony) they attempt to speak over each other, as in an argument. The exchange devolves into chaos (as online discourse is liable to do).

Interspersed between these dialogues are two short solo sections (Soliloquy I and Soliloquy II) — one for each of the saxophonists. Like a theatrical soliloquy, they serve as a brief glimpse inside the character’s mind, between the action of the dialogues. Both make use of the same musical material, but the characters articulate these ideas very differently, in keeping with their contrasting personalities.

My goal with this piece is to reflect my own feelings about digital communication — some combination of amusement, confusion, and anger. These are sentiments I am sure many others share. Perhaps we will learn to adapt, so that these technologies become as seamless as speech.

Until then, we will be practicing an art of miscommunication.

This piece was commissioned by a consortium of ensembles led by the Lati2de Duo, Matthew Dardick and Leo Schlaifer. Their recording of the piece can be found below: