Sekhon-Gradient 2.0 (SP)-B/V/X/M/1T/P/ASX

"Scored for alto saxophone and five percussionists, Gradient 2.0 (2012) was composed at the request of
saxophonist Doug O'Connor and premiered by the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire Percussion
Ensemble. The original version of this work was composed in 2008 and is scored for saxophone and
prepared piano. In the original version, the piano and saxophone play an equal role; I was interested in
the spectrum of sound created by the two of these instruments together. Extended techniques are
employed in order to explore a common ground between the saxophone and piano. In this revised version, I sought to replace the various piano timbres with percussion instruments that have similar timbral qualities to that of the various prepared-piano sounds. I was working with two different spectrums throughout this piece: one that has the saxophone and percussionists on opposite ends with characteristics of both instruments intersecting in the middle, and another spectrum that contains all of the sounds from both of these instruments with similar sounds from each instrument occupying the same area of the spectrum. The percussion colors range from the noise of striking a paper bag to the smooth resonant tones of the vibraphone and the saxophone part requires a variety of slap-tongue techniques and growls. While this piece is an exploration of sound, my compositional approach was a process-oriented one that dealt with the evolution of, and relationship between, pitch and rhythmic material." - Bajinder Singh Sekhon, II

Duration: 9 Minutes

Instrumentation:
Alto Saxophone
Percussion 1 - Xylophone, Floor Tom, Suspended Cymbal, Suspended Paper Bag, Lion's Roar
Percussion 2 - 5-Octave Marimba, Slap Mallets, Bundled Sticks (ie- Rute)
Percussion 3 - Congas, Concert Bass Drum, 26" Timpano (Hands, Brushes, Cord Mallet, Superball)
Percussion 4 - Vibraphone, Tam Tam (Cord Mallets, Bow, Bundled Sticks)
Percussion 5 - Glockenspiel, Snare Drum, Kick Drum (Sticks, Brushes, and Plastic Mallets)