DESCRIPTION:
Man-Mou - for sopranino saxophone and piano by Nigel Wood. Sopranino Saxophone - Gerard McChrystal, Piano - Catherine Milledge
Recorded in the Weston Gallery, Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, 2.7.2014. Free piano play along track - download here: https://soundcloud.com/witherfordway/man-mou-piano-play-along-track
Sheet music is available in the following editions:
Sax & Piano (solo sopranino, soprano or alto) - http://www.saxtetpublications.com/catalogue/viewitem.php?id=422
Sax Ensemble (solo sopranino, soprano or alto) and sax sextet - http://www.saxtetpublications.com/catalogue/viewitem.php?id=481
Sax Quartet - (alto or sopranino solo) http://www.saxtetpublications.com/catalogue/viewitem.php?id=434
Sax Quintet (s a a t b) - http://www.saxtetpublications.com/catalogue/viewitem.php?id=464
Wind Quintet (fl ob cl hn/alto sax bsn) - http://www.saxtetpublications.com/catalogue/viewitem.php?id=462
Clarinet Quartet - http://www.saxtetpublications.com/catalogue/viewitem.php?id=546

Sax Ensemble version with The Sax Family and Gerard McChrystal as sopranino soloist: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNdokI_Q4h0

Programme Notes:
Commissioned by Kevin Ling for the 2012 World Saxophone Congress XVI, St Andrews, Scotland, UK. In 2011, Hong Kong saxophonist, Kevin Ling commissioned the composer to write a new work for the less common combination of sopranino saxophone and piano, and was premièred at the 2012 World Saxophone Congress. Composer Nigel Wood (also a saxophonist and soprilloist) and Kevin have been involved in numerous musical collaborations over the past few years, in the UK and Hong Kong. This piece is the culmination of these projects. The title 'Man-Mou' was inspired by the two types of Cantonese Opera plays. 'Mou' plays emphasize war, conflict and strife. In contrast, 'Man' plays tend to be gentler, more elegant and poetic. 'Man-Mou' is not intended to be programmatic or imitative of Cantonese Opera, rather an evocation of the myriad of musical styles and instruments (both Western and Eastern) that have influenced Cantonese music. The ornaments are only suggestions allowing the performer to embellish in a quasi improvisatory style. After a brief introduction, the main theme (Man), a coquettish, lyrical melody follows. This evolves into a more tense, jazz/funk section (Mou). A restorative calm leads to a peaceful ending.