April

Written for Sound World’s scheme supporting performers during the coronavirus pandemic, April pays tribute to pianist Ellis Marsalis Jr. It is a chaconne, a piece built on a repeating sequence of chords. Piano, vibraphone, and saxophone take turns adding music with an improvisatory character. These passages are fully notated in the original version. Beamish also allows a longer performance with jazz improvisation.

Source: Scottish Music Centre’s score listing and composer’s note.