World Premier by Washington Saxophone Quartet
My composition equilibrium 1.4 written for the Washington Saxophone Quartet, will be premiered at their February 22nd Concert in Vienna Virginia. I plan to attend the concert and hope to see you there!
Inspired by Henry Purcell’s (1659-1695) Fantasia Upon One Note, “equilibrium 1.4” explores scientific patterns of stability, fluctuation and resilience, and the harmonization of noise. Spence originally conceived equilibrium for viol consort, for which it won the International Traynor Competition, before discovering new expressive possibilities in the sound world of the saxophone. After listening to the Washington Saxophone Quartet, she was drawn to the ensemble’s ability to blend while preserving distinct individual colors. This led to a central question that shapes equilibrium 1.4: what happens when the single sustaining note is passed from player to player rather than anchored in one voice? As the note migrates, stability becomes fluid, continually negotiated among the quartet. In this world premier performance, the Washington Saxophone Quartet reveals how a fragile, hopeful balance can emerge from dynamic interaction.
Other composers represented in the concert include J.S. Bach, Astor Piazzolla, Maurice Ravel, Alexander Glazunov, Jean Françaix, and Aaron Copland.
WSaxQ is amazing and deserves a listen, either live at their concert, via their website videos, or through their impressive discography. Their sound is delicious, variable, and surprising, and inspired me to start writing for saxophones. Here’s their bio:
WSaxQ is the most widely heard saxophone quartet. Since 1997, recorded arrangements by the Washington Saxophone Quartet have aired regularly throughout the United States on NPR’s broadcasts of “All Things Considered” (listen here). Concert audiences enjoy their connection to WSaxQ when they discover they’ve been listening to the quartet’s music during afternoon “drive-time.” And it often comes as a surprise that they’ve been hearing four saxophones! The instruments evoke the refined sounds of a string quartet, the rich harmonies of an organ prelude, and the excitement of a jazz sax section. The ensemble taps into a rich repertoire, from early music to newly commissioned works, and draws on a wealth of experience to reach listeners of every age and background.
Concert info:
Sunday, February 22, 2026, 4:00pm
Church of the Holy Comforter
543 Beulah Rd. NE Vienna, VA 22180
