- Barry Guy
Mobile Herbarium (1992)
- Novello & Co Ltd (World)
Commissioned by Phoenix Arts, Leicester with funds provided by East Midlands Arts
Programme Note
Mobile Herbarium was written for the saxophonists Evan Parker, Stan Sulzmann, Ray Warleigh and Julian Arguelles. The title comes from Max Ernst's painting/collage (1920) which portrays seven plant-like species traversed by various inclined lines. Having already prepared a graphic representation of my piece with seven columns of possibilities (instrumental combinations / musical tensions / activity / pitch areas / duration etc. subject to Le Corbusier's 'Modular') and (yes!), inclined lines to indicate these variables, I found a ready resonance in Ernst's collage. The title and collage somehow encompassed many of the areas I wished to examine in this work. Within the piece there is a mobile (part IV) so the title seemed even more appropriate.
The movements are as follows:
I. Soprano solo (for Ray Warleigh) with two tenors and baritone
II. Four sopranos ensemble
III. Tenor solo (for Stan Sulzmann)
IV. Sop/Alto/Ten/Bari ensemble
V. Soprano solo (for Evan Parker) with Tenor
VI. Sop/Alto/Ten/Bari ensemble, MOBILE
VII. Baritone solo (for Julian Arguelles) with three sopranos
© Barry Guy
The movements are as follows:
I. Soprano solo (for Ray Warleigh) with two tenors and baritone
II. Four sopranos ensemble
III. Tenor solo (for Stan Sulzmann)
IV. Sop/Alto/Ten/Bari ensemble
V. Soprano solo (for Evan Parker) with Tenor
VI. Sop/Alto/Ten/Bari ensemble, MOBILE
VII. Baritone solo (for Julian Arguelles) with three sopranos
© Barry Guy