Title: Utopia

Year: 2019

Instrumentation: Alto Saxophone & Piano

Duration: 12' 00"

Commissioned by and written for Lewis Banks as part of "Afterlife" for Alto Saxophone and Piano.

Utopia is the 1st movement in a larger series of works called Afterlife (written for Alto Saxophone and Piano) which is inspired by David Eagleman’s short story cycle ‘Sum: Forty tales from the afterlives’ that comprises of several speculative stories that postulate a diverse range of scenarios in which humans might find themselves in the afterlife.

Utopia is based on the chapter entitled “Egalitaire”, which describes God’s attempts to create an equal society in Heaven whereby She reconsiders the subtle nuances that define people’s sins and achievements; and ultimately changes how She judges good and bad. Therefore, She closes Hell and fires the Devil, meaning that everyone is automatically granted a place in Heaven, which eventually leads to dissention and dissatisfaction amongst the opposing characters in Heaven. She discovers that Equality is not possible and expresses melancholy at her failed utopia. Thusly, this movement attempts to capture God’s foolish endeavours to create a balanced paradise - in this instance equality between the Saxophone and Piano - while exploring this chapter's narrative in a musical context.