"on queer survival" for Alto Saxophone and Piano (2023)

Stuart Beatch - "on queer survival" for Alto Saxophone and Piano (2023)
Nick May, saxophone
Alex Li, piano
Live recording from October 2023
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As a composer of queer choral & vocal music, I was thrilled when Nick May approached me about writing a piece for the I Exist Project, his large-scale commissioning project to foster new queer-themed repertoire for saxophone. I wanted to address the struggles faced by our community, while also celebrating our strength and resilience.
"on queer survival" opens with a gentle melody which is gradually fragmented and transformed, weaving between different moods and colours with hypnotic repetition. At the centre of the piece is a sudden outburst, depicting the violence faced by the queer community daily. As the music settles, it begins to retrace its steps before emerging confident and settled. The opening melody returns one final time before fading away unresolved-as we remember all those who haven’t survived.
Learn more at stuartbeatch.com/

[@nosrac825]

Thank you

[@cormorantcolors]

Continuing to be stunned by your work. I honestly was unsure going in how an instrumental piece would really _feel_ queer, but you nailed it completely. By harnessing the idea of the musician themself as a character, and by harnessing repeated notes, trills, scales, and off-timing, you capture the feeling of trying over and over again to play something right. To be someone you’re not.

[@wenwenvanderwende]

This is beautiful! I especially love the out of time section.

[@weuoqweuoqbhgvhhh4382]

great job for the saxophone)

[@hopesalmonson5868]

I needed this today. Really excellent 💕

[@imauz1127]

interesting. i like it. maybe i’ll try playing it

[@BrettHollett]

This is nice

[@jermainex364]

*PromoSM*