Sunrise Dance: a ritual of commune

Program Notes

This piece is based on a masterclass when I was in high school by a brilliant jazz saxophonist, Tim Warfield, who talked briefly on how he perceives jazz as a “ritual of commune.” This phrase stuck with me and made me realize that all great music, regardless of genre, follows as a ritual of commune. A “ritual” in that the music is deeply spiritual and rooted firmly in tradition . And “commune” in that the music revolves around community and connection, whether that is playing music with your friends or people you hardly know. I wanted to represent this experience of a “ritual of commune” in this piece, in which every part relies on the others to give it meaning and purpose.