Jitter

Instrumentation: For Alto Saxophone and Marimba

Duration: 5'30"

Program Note:

Jitter is a fast-paced programmatic work that showcases the virtuosity of its performers. Reminiscent of Rimsky-Korsakov's Flight of the Bumblebee, the piece is driven by jittery musical figures that playfully bounce between the instrumentalists as trills, chromatic runs, and tremolos. Alongside its quirky, theatrical, spontaneous, and high-energy feel, Jitter also explores the complementary timbral characteristics shared between the two instruments, highlighting how they can both mimic and blend seamlessly with one another in rapid, fluid exchanges.

Premiere: 01/05/2025 by Robert Burton (A. Sax), and Elinor Mason (Mar.) at Royal Academy of Music, Angela Burgess Recital Hall, London, UK.