Seed to Snag (2018)

for Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Bassoon, and Bass Clarinet

Duration: 12 min

Program Note

Seed to Snag is a three-movement work, the title referring to the life cycle of a tree. The opening movement, “Sprout,” imitates the gradual germination of a seed, with a melody that slowly unfolds. The second movement, “Stretch,” is a virtuosic solo for the bassoon with the other instruments in the quintet resonating the bassoon’s pitches. The final movement, “Sow,” focuses on consistent pulse and imitation as the seeds spin and spread from the tree in rapid succession. The imitation here, however, is so compressed that the instruments often sound as if they are playing with a delay pedal. The piece ends with a restatement of some opening gestures from the first movement, beginning the cycle again.

Performances

8/2018 - I-Park; Akropolis Reed Quintet

12/2019 - Mostly Modern Festival; Akropolis Reed Quintet

4/2025 - Fivemind Reed Quintet

Recordings

2021 - Akropolis Reed Quintet - Ghost Light