Sanctuary
| Year Composed: | 2007 |
| Instrumentation: | bassoon, piano |
| Duration | 10 minutes |
Audio Excerpts (MP3)
Program Notes
“Sanctuary” attempts to depict the bassoon (the underdog of the woodwinds) in a more heroic light than it is typically cast. The first half of the piece is a ‘developmental introduction’ in which both soloist and accompanist struggle to attain their common goal. This is symbolized by the declamatory theme that launches the second half, which is set in a relatively simple ABA form (the B section is based on musical material I had written for an aborted video game.) The title “Sanctuary” has some roots in the quasi-religious undertones of certain passages, but it also refers to my own sanctuary—a musical comfort zone where I can express myself without stylistic limitation.
Performances
- November 28, 2007 - Lance McMillan, bassoon; Kevin Lau, piano. Walter Hall, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto
- June 18, 2007 - Lance McMillan, bassoon; Kevin Lau, piano. Heliconian Hall, Toronto
- March 29, 2007 - Lance McMillan, bassoon; Sonya Sim, piano. Walter Hall, Faculty of Music, University of Toronto