Sweet Tooth
I. Key Lime Pie
II. Salted Caramel Gelato
III. Chocolate Lava Cake
The commissioner has exclusive recording rights until 8/30/24.
VIDEO
Joe Lulloff, alto saxophone
YEAR COMPOSED
2021
DURATION
13'
COMMISSIONER
Joseph Lulloff, saxophone
ORDERING SCORES
Theodore Presser Company
https://www.presser.com/114-42420-sweet-tooth.html
PROGRAM NOTES
When Joseph Lulloff and I began discussing details for a new solo saxophone work, I noticed how much we talked about food. Joe wanted a suite of virtuosic short movements in which one movement would be a barn-burner. As our discussions went along, I realized that a trio of desserts would nicely (and deliciously!) fit the bill. For Sweet Tooth, we selected three desserts that we both find highly appealing.
For my research, I sampled (okay, devoured) each dessert, wrote down my impressions, and then composed music to match my gastronomic experience:
I. Key Lime Pie
The bottom graham cracker crust gives the pie piece a dense, solid foundation and has a slightly grainy quality. The middle key lime layer is thick, creamy, and very tangy. The top whipped cream layer is light and sweet. Both the graham cracker and whipped cream layers aid in mitigating the tartness of the key lime layer. A benefit of this pie is that you can direct each forkful to consist of one, two, or all three layers. This gives you six different possible tastes, as well as helps you choose how much tartness you want per bite, especially if there's a lot of whipped cream on top.
II. Salted Caramel Gelato
The gelato is smooth and very creamy. The caramel adds to this creaminess, while the salt adds unexpected and fun moments of punch. If the grains of salt are small enough to blend seamlessly into the gelato, there is no way of knowing when you’re going to experience that punch. This dessert is mostly a single-taste experience, with an occasional salty spike. The gelato melts so swiftly on the tongue that the taste fades rapidly after each spoonful, which leads to speedily consuming the entire bowl.
III. Chocolate Lava Cake
The entire exterior consists of a light and moist milk chocolate cake, which has a pleasingly sweet quality. A fine dusting of powdered sugar on top doesn’t greatly impact the taste, but it is visually appealing against the chocolate. Once the fork breaches the middle of the cake, a rich, dense liquid of deliciously bitter dark chocolate oozes from the center. Light versus dense, sweet versus bitter…this dessert is a study in contrasts. Consuming this dessert too quickly leads to a sugar rush.
-S.G.
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HELIOS • 4’30” • 2 tpts/flugelhorns, hn, tbn, tba
PROGRAM NOTES
In Greek mythology, Helios was the god of the sun. His head wreathed in light, he daily drove a chariot drawn by four horses (in some tales, the horses are winged; in others, they are made of fire) across the sky. At the end of each day’s journey, he slept in a golden boat that carried him on the Okeanos River (a fresh water stream that encircled the flat earth) back to his rising place. The cyclic journey of Helios is depicted in this short work for brass quintet. The first half is fast-paced and very energetic, while the second half is slow and serene, representing day and night.
-S.G.