Park Story

Park Story is an approx. 6.5 min. work for upper intermediate SATB Sax Quartet in three movements. For parts, please email [email protected], if desired. Composed by Chase Morrison in 2024. Program Notes: As a violinist and longtime orchestral musician, I delight in exploring the various colors and features of instruments of which I am not familiar. My first saxophone quartet, Park Story, seeks to highlight the saxophone’s impressive range of expressive tones and techniques, an instrument that I have recently found a great amount of interest in studying and writing for. Park Story is a narrative piece that recounts the experience I had upon visiting Yellowstone National Park, capturing the many “phases” the park seems to undergo throughout the day in three movements. From its enchanting sunrises (I. Sunrise) to its chaotic tourist-filled quarters (II. The Masses) to its otherworldly backcountry scenery (III. Solace at Last), Yellowstone is truly one of America’s most important icons that I believe needs to be carefully preserved at all costs. This work takes abundant inspiration from Jazz styles, the Blues, experimental Western music, and Western classical music to tell this story, reflecting the melting pot of American culture that so often meets at Yellowstone. Thank you so much and please enjoy Park Story!