Where the Bee Dances | Michael Nyman

Commissioned by the Bournemouth Sinfonietta

Orchestration
2(II:pic).1+ca.1+bcl.2/2.1.0+btbn.0/pf/str(desks 6.6.4.3.2)
Soloistssoprano saxophone
Duration21 min

CategorySoloists and Orchestra

Composer
Michael Nyman

Performances
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Programme Note

This saxophone concerto, written in one continuous movement with a wide variety of tempi, celebrates the talents of John Harle, who has been a central player in the Michael Nyman Band for over ten years. The title has a double reference: on the one hand to the circular orientation dances which a foraging bee performs to communicate the location of food source, and on the other hand to my setting of ‘Where the bee sucks’, composed for Peter Greenaway’s film Prospero’s Books and quoted sporadically during the concerto. However, most of the material is derived from a 4-chord sequence that John once overheard me playing and which he expressed a particular liking for.

Michael Nyman

Media

Where the Bee Dances

Scores

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Reviews

Michael Nyman’s saxophone concerto Where the Bee Dances (played by Gerard McChrystal and the London Musici) proves yet again that minimalist music makes for wonderful ballet scores. The choreography for the 12 dancers is joyful and open-chested, as [choreographer Christopher] Bruce’s perfectly timed phrases ride a momentum of emotionally rich, fluently constructed steps.

Debra Craine, The Times

1st June 1995