composer
Jorrit Dijkstra (Eindhoven, 5 April 1966) tries to interweave elements from the jazz tradition with contemporary forms of improvisation. In his own groups he combines this with strong compositions and ...
related works
Miniatures : for bass clarinet / Initiated and edited by Fie Schouten
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Clarinet
Scoring:
cl-b
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Mixed ensemble (2-11 players); Saxophone with electronics; Electronics with different instruments; Mixed ensemble (2-11 players) with electronics
Scoring:
sax-a tape/sax-a cemb perc
Pet Rescue : Version for saxophone quartet (with optional soundtrack) / Chiel Meijering
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Saxophone with electronics
Scoring:
4sax tape(ad lib)
Genre:
Chamber music
Subgenre:
Saxophone; Electronics with different instruments; Saxophone with electronics
Scoring:
4sax computer electronics
composition
Shruut : for saxophone quartet and shruti box / Jorrit Dijkstra
Description:
Shruut was originally written for the Amstel Quartet. The piece was inspired by the mood and the music of some of Indian filmmaker and composer Sayajit Ray's works. I used a melodic fragment out of one of Ray's film compositions as an inspiration for the main melody of Shruut.
The piece uses an electronic shruti box, an Indian style drone generator. The acoustic shruti box (or even a Tampura), played by a separate musician can be used as well. However, I originally intended this piece as "electro-acoustic", and the theatrical element of turning on and off this strange colorful box is part of the performance of the piece. The box should be placed in the middle, right in front of the musicians.
The introduction (the long tones before A) is a meditative "Alap", without a tempo. The intro is very free and rubato, and every note can be bent, trilled, fluttertongued or played as an overtone as desired. The "available pitches" can be played in any order. Playing with difference tones by bending the pitches is highly encouraged, but should be used in moderation.
In a few places notes need to be overblown. These overblown or multiphonic notes are notated in diamond shapes, indicating the extra overtone that will sound on top of the low pitch if overblown correctly. The sound can be slightly rough, in a "free jazz" manner.