Orchestral Recapitulations |
In Korneitchouk's mischievously titled quasi-concerto for saxophone and orchestra, The Disqualification of Harry Semantix as Trial Juror for East County, also has at its core a strong formalistic element. The Truth (the opening theme after an introduction pieces it together) is slowly mutated into its opposite, the Lie -- upside down, backward, twice as long and strident (the closing theme just before the "double" cadenza at the end of the piece). | The double cadenza, is in fact a cadenza for the saxophone played over a wild orchestral stretto - a kind of orchestral cadenza - both simultaneously intoning bits and pieces of either theme, and seems to ask: Can Truth coexist with its Lie? or perhaps, Can Truth exist without its Lie? | |
The first incarnation of The Disqualification of Harry... (available on CD from Old King Cole Productions) appears as a duo for saxophone and piano and has only more recently been orchestrated. The composer tells us that the idea for this piece initially germinated from his own frustrations of having to serve jury duty and being disqualified as a potential juror for answering honestly during jury selection. "East County" is to be understood as "Any County." |
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