“Rise” explores the numerous resonances and timbres of the alto saxophone in the way that a vocalist explores the nuanced vocal qualities and expressive micro-variations in sound color at the far reaches of their own voice. While it may not sound like it, this piece is entirely acoustic. The piano is sometimes treated in a conventional manner as a keyed percussion instrument, and sometimes treated as a resonating body for the saxophone. The unique and sometimes electronic-sounding resonances of the piano are activated inside the piano using an electronic bow (ebow) and rosined bow hair strung & pulled through the piano’s strings. Much like the sympathetic strings on a Norwegian hardanger fiddle create a reverberant sound bed for the fiddle’s melody lines, the piano serves to timbrally support, resonate and conflict with the saxophone's vocal lines.

Commissioned by a consortium comprised of Jonathan Hulting-Cohen, Steven Banks, Jeffrey Leung, and Zachary Stern.