Ari(rang)

TITLE: Ari(rang)
CAT# (YEAR COMPOSED): 85.a (2010)
INSTRUMENTATION: soprano saxophone
PAGES: 6
DURATION (APPROX): 17’
PREMIERE BY: Phillipe Arnaudet at the Centre d’Art Contemporain, Maison des Arts Georges Pompidou, Cajarc, France on November 25, 2010

Ari(rang) for solo soprano saxophone, is from Edgerton’s series of “Folk Songs” for various instruments.

Somewhat similar to the Folk Songs of Luciano Berio, Edgerton says of the work: “In my folk songs, the texts have to do with workers songs and the life surrounding them. Compared to the Berio, in these songs the instruments and voices use more contemporary musical languages, expressions and techniques.”

Ari(rang) draws its inspiration from a Korean folk song of the same name, a song that is often regarded as the unofficial Korean national anthem. The work utilizes a number of techniques that are drawn from Edgerton’s extensive research into voice, acoustics and perception with many of the techniques required of the performer being largely unexplored territory for many modern saxophonists.Throughout the work, the performer is required to create various sounds with their air and voice that resonate outside of the saxophone.