We Speak Etruscan

Description

Baritone Saxophone, Bass Clarinet — The piece was written in 1992 in New York following Hyla’s Rome Prize residency at theAmerican Academy, and was premiered by Berne and Smith in 1993 at Jordan Hall in Boston.The creation of We Speak Etruscan was initiated by Tim Berne and was also inspired byHyla’s twenty-year artistic friendship with Tim Smith. The title of the piece has multilayeredand ironic connotations, exemplified by the fact that the ancient Etruscans spokea language that is now lost (only the alphabet is decipherable). The music’s jazz-like riffscontrasting with moments of lyrical stillness provide a vehicle that is a tour de force forthese wind-instrument cousins.We Speak Etruscan, performed by Berne and Smith, is available on compact disc fromNew World Records — Catalog Number 80491-2. Lee Hyla (b. 1952) is one of the more adventurous contemporary composers active in the field today. His music is in the postwar American Expressionist tradition that derives from Stefan Wolpe and Elliott Carter, leavened with the urban flavors of Avant-Garde Jazz and contemporary popular music of the Rock persuasion. High in energy and rhythmically challenging, We Speak Etruscan will test the mettle of advanced players in several technical and expressive manners. Written in 1992, it is dedicated to the two players for whom it was composed, Tim Berne (saxophone) and Tim Smith (bass clarinet). It will be a challenging duet for the serious student or professional.