MOTUS ANIMI for Two Saxophones（2023）

I composed this piece in response to an invitation from the Groupe des Quatre et ses Ami(e)s. I’ve never felt that it’s really within my capacity to create something entirely new or to open up new fields of artistic endeavour. I decided therefore that the starting point for this work would be an attempt on my part to assist performers with little previous involvement with the abundant world of contemporary music to become more familiar with this world.
The work consists of three movements each representing an elemental emotion: joy，anger and sorrow. My idea was that the creation of aural gestures and movements reflecting the ‘spirits that move us’ (motus animi) would make it possible to establish a high degree of communication even in the presence of unfamiliar sounds. When performing the piece，importance should be placed first and foremost on movement and gesture rather than on sound itself. I hope too that performers will convey a sense of enjoyment in their expression not just of joy but also of the emotions of anger and sorrow.