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for alto saxophone

by Aaron Johnson

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2-3 days

Between the Arborescent Claw and a Blue Place

Duration: approx. 3 1/2 minutes.

Composed by Aaron Johnson, for alto saxophone. 1 Full Score. Contemporary Classical. 2 pages. 8 1/2 X 11. Booklet Format. Published by Painted Bird Music.

Between the Arborescent Claw and a Blue Place was written for saxophonist Theofilos Sotiriades. It is dedicated to John M. Crabtree, the composer’s friend and colleague. “Arborescent Claw” is a play on the name Crabtree; “A Blue Place” refers to the Blues and Bluegrass. Both images figure strongly in the formation of musical material and alternate from one to the other. ‘Crabtree’ can be spelled musically as C–D–A–B-flat–B–D–E. This pitch-set is the seed for musical motives that alternate with Bluesy or Bluegrassy “riffs.” The two come together when the ‘Crabtree’ motive takes one a bluesy life of its own, and Blind Lemon Crabtree is born.