Sanctuary

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Excerpt

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