Guitar Music
In the Dragon's Garden
Floating on the Wind-Islands in the Sand-The Sea of Stones-Beyond the
Wall-Dancing between the Rocks
For guitar and alto saxophone - Duration: c 17:00
Winner
1995 Lee Ettelson Award
In the Dragon's Garden was selected from 244 entries as a Winner of the 1995 Lee Ettelson Award. Commissioned by Frank Bongiorno and Robert Nathanson for premiere at the 1992 World Saxophone Congress in Pesaro, Italy, the work was inspired by a several visits to Ryoanji, a temple in Kyoto, Japan which is noted for its Zen garden made up almost entirely of rocks. Fifteen large rocks are set with precise randomness in a carefully raked rectangle of small white stones. The entire garden is surrounded by low earthen walls. In this garden, one is free to imagine the many possible meanings it may have. A challenging work both technically and musically, In the Dragon’s Garden extends the boundaries for both instruments and has provided an inspirational and practical basis for future literature in this medium.
Recorded on compact disc, Classic Saxophone, Vol. 2, Music da Camera, LCD 09193(lisciorecordings.com)and soon to be re-released on the compact disc, In the Dragon's Garden: Music by David Kechley, Liscio 98001(lisciorecordings.com)
Price 35.00 (+S&H) includes two performance "scores" designed for each instrument
DRIVELINE : A Powerwalk for Guitar and Alto Saxophone
For guitar and alto saxophone - Duration: c 10:30
Commissioned by The Ryoanji Duo for premiere at the 1997 World Saxophone Congress in Valencia, Spain. The title DRIVELINE refers to the single unison line which opens this one movement work with its characteristic energy and rhythmic momentum. This "line" is elaborated further by each instrument in its own way creating virtuoso variations as the structural basis of the work. This is the second work to explore the rich medium of classical guitar and alto saxophone. It sounds remarkably different from the first although it continues to provides equally strong textural contrasts and depths of emotion, a standard set by its predecessor. Soon to be available on the compact disc, In the Dragon;s Garden: Music by David Kechley, Liscio 98001(lisciorecordings.com)
Price 30.00 (+S&H) includes two performance "scores" designed for each instrument
Voices from the Garden
Guitar Quartet - Duration: c. 17:00
Commissioned by the Minneapolis and North Carolina Guitar Quartets and premiered at the Guitar Foundation of America International Festival, this work is similar in form and expressive quality to In the Dragon’s Garden. The textures achieved in this work are both surprising and satisfying simultaneously and the expressive and stylistic range is broad. The five movements played without pause are Grooves-Dance and Reflection-Lament-Awakening-Driving
Recorded by the North Carolina Guitar Quartet, Winter Branches: Music by David Kechley, Liscio 97982 (lisciorecordings.com) and by the Minneaopolis Guitar Quartet, New Works for Guitar Quartet, Albany Records, Troy 207(albanyrecords.com).
Price $50.00 (+S&H) includes study score and parts.