Program Note: In August of 2019, I decided on a whim to try and climb the infamous Manitou Incline in
Manitou Spring, CO. I set out on to the trail in the mid-to-late morning on a particularly hot day forRead More
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Soprano Sax Solo with Piano
11408596Supplier ID: s-148
Price:$30.00
Ships from J.W. Pepper
Price:$30.00
Program Note: In August of 2019, I decided on a whim to try and climb the infamous Manitou Incline in
Manitou Spring, CO. I set out on to the trail in the mid-to-late morning on a particularly hot day for
Colorado and when I was about halfway up, I stopped for a moment to take a break. I realized I had no
water left, was already quite hot, and my heart was not slowing down, even when I completely stopped to
rest. I then had a series of panic attacks that made my heart rate spike to 200 bpm. Long story short, I was
suffering from severe dehydration and a fireman came up the Incline to deliver a liter of saline to get me
back up and running. I spent the next two days at home recuperating and decided that I would adequately
prepare myself and would try it again. Facing my fear, I climbed it again, but was overprepared the second
time. About a third-of-the-way up I had another panic attack, but through patience and perseverance was
able to surmount my fear, pushing through and finishing the climb. It was exhilarating to best a goal that
had beaten me just days before.
This piece follows my experience and is an expression of the emotions I felt. The first movement has a
beckoning melody in the saxophone with bell-like sounds in the piano, followed by a bit of a playful "jam"
that is reflective of the optimism I had heading to the trailhead. The first movement closes with screaming,
urgent sounds, reflective of my panicked state while on the mountain. The second movement mirrors the
devastation but lifts in the end to bring back a reprise of the first movement's beckoning melody, calling
back to the mountain. The third movement has a new section with a determined, break-neck feel that leads
into another climb. This time, however, the climb results in conquering the mountain rather than it
conquering the climber.
Huge thanks to Robert Eason for his help conceptualizing the piece and for help all throughout, organizing
the commission and being the great friend that he has always been.