Monday 6 February 2023

By the sea: Michele Deiana's new work for saxophone quartet

Michele Deiana is an Italian composer based in London. His By the Sea is a new work for saxophone quartet, recorded by the Perpetuo Saxophone Quartet (Gabriella Petruzzi, Luca Boscolo, Martino Luxich, Samuele Molinari) and issued by the Birmingham Record Company

Born in Cagliari, Michele Deiana studied at the conservatoires of Cagliari, Venice and Birmingham, and he took part in the 2021 Cheltenham Music Festival's Composers Academy. The Perpetuo Saxophone Quartet was formed in 2018, within the saxophone school of the Venice Conservatoire. 

In three movements, By the Sea aims to capture something of the different elements of the sea. 'Body' is grave and thoughtful, with individual phrases placed in space, the music developing in intensity and building slowly towards 'Motion' which at first seems fast flowing, till you realise that different lines are moving at different speeds, to intriguing effect. Even as the music slows, towards something sombre and spare, this multi-layered approach continues. 'Home' starts out with a sense of gentle undulation and seems to slow down towards the end but there is a sudden surprise, a code which consists of voice and electronics (both performed by the composer), a sort of pop-synth version of the music. Perhaps intended to intrigue or to give a sense of the home-world of the music.

Perpetuo Saxophone Quartet
Perpetuo Saxophone Quartet

The work has been issued on its own, as an EP, and Delania's voice certainly intrigues and raises interest. It would have been nice to hear more of his music, perhaps for the same group? Something to look forward to    

Michele Deiania (born 1992) - By the Sea
Perpetuo Saxophone Quartet
Birmingham Record Company BRC019

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