Kedma

Kedma was composed as part of the Assembly Quartet Pedagogy Project, an initiative focused on developing new, accessible works for intermediate saxophone-quartet players. The project aims to provide young musicians with compositions that are both challenging and rewarding, expanding their repertoire beyond traditional transcriptions.

The title Kedma means east in Hebrew, and the piece draws inspiration from Israeli dance styles, both traditional and contemporary. The word also plays on Kedem (“from a long time ago”) and Kadma (“before” or an upbeat in musical terms), reflecting the intertwining of these concepts in the music. Structured in an ABA form, Kedma maintains a consistent tempo throughout, while the middle section introduces longer note values and a more expressive character than the outer sections.

The opening features a four-note motif within a span of five sixteenths, inspired by rhythmic cycles found in Indian and Middle-Eastern music. This is complemented by an accompaniment based on polyrhythms, played through without ties, drawing influence from Joseph Schillinger’s rhythmic theories. The composition incorporates Middle-Eastern and Jewish musical scales, highlighting the saxophone quartet’s capacity for rich contrapuntal textures and a diverse sonic palette.

Instrumentation: SATB and AATB quartets (2 scores + 8 parts)

Duration: ≈ 4½ minutes | Level: Medium-Advanced | Publisher: Lyric Row Press