CATANGO 5

Catango 5 is a playful, tango-inspired work composed especially for senior wind ensemble and a professional saxophone quartet. Instead of taking a more traditional concerto grosso viewpoint with this work (i.e. solo quartet with accompanying ensemble), I have placed the quartet under the guise of mentors and infused much of their playing alongside that of the ensemble. The four members of the original quartet for which this was written, the Nexas Saxophone Quartet (www.nexasquartet.com) have vibrant personalities and this is most certainly demonstrated in their approach to playing the saxophone. With this in mind, components of Catango 5 are built around imaginary feline characters largely inspired by the personality traits observed in the 5 cats I have owned in this lifetime. Placing personality into your playing can be a challenging aspect of musicianship hence, I have written the work to also include mentoring opportunities between the visiting quartet and the wind band by way of Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass voicings that work in cohesion. The quartet thus have the opportunity to work alongside high school players and help them break through an all-important membrane: finding a freedom in their instrumental approach that is both expressive and personal. At the centre of the work is a vibrant, virtuosic moment for the quartet to shine with all players on Soprano Saxophone. This represents the feline dream state – a place to be safe and free.