Camellia

From the composer:

Camellia was written for Victoria Samek as a musical response to the seasonal changes of the beautiful camellia shrub in Victoria’s garden. In order for this to be portrayed, I decided that this would be a work for solo instrument, with the soprano saxophone taking the role of the Camellia. Like all members of the saxophone family, the soprano inhabits an expressive nature, but in particular it is capable of demonstrating haunting, yet pure, and lyrical timbres, perfect when tasked with conveying a story.

The piece is essentially in five short sections that all link together. Each section maps a different season in which the Camellia takes on changes either to its physical appearance, or biological development throughout Winter, the coming of Spring, Spring itself, and ending with the knowledge that Summer will follow.

The opening is almost hypnotic, it is sparse, and the focal point is the concert D that the soprano returns too after each ascending line. This captures the stillness, and bleak nature of a snow filled, white Winter. As the snow thaws, Spring is on the horizon, and the energy builds to the Camellia bursting into bloom. Here, the use of constant, driving semiquaver sextuplets at a steady tempo aim to highlight the changes that are happening to the plant as its journey of development continues. As the shrubs blooming is complete, the mood switches, becoming more contemplative, and reflective, slowly winding down since the plant has worked its hardest, now in full bloom, it basks in the sun. After a flurry of notes, the piece draws to a close, landing back on the focal note of the concert D as utilised in the opening section to highlight the cyclical nature of photosynthesis.

“Camellia” is for solo clarinet.

The world premiere recording by Victoria Samek (Journeying in Time, CC0082) will be available here on Clarinet & Saxophone Classics, iTunes and all major streaming platforms.