Project Blakeana: Three New Chamber Saxophone Works by Hong Kong Composers

Project Blakeana was launched to promote Hong Kong composers and invest in their new music. Playing one of the most active roles in new music in the 20th and 21st centuries, the saxophone has a reputation as a versatile instrument for soloists and chamber musicians. In addition to the two most common instrumentations (solo saxophone with piano accompaniment, and saxophone quartet), the works for a trio of two saxophones and piano are becoming more popular. However, there is simply not enough available repertoire, hence the birth of Project Blakeana. Some foreseeable influences of this project are 1) expanding the repertoire list for two saxophones and piano; 2) promoting Hong Kong living composers; and 3) fostering the new music scene and encouraging collaboration among performers and composers. I commissioned composers Meilina Tsui, Esther Wu, and Austin Yip for Project Blakeana. Tsui wrote Fantasia for Two Saxophones and Piano for soprano saxophone, baritone saxophone, and piano. Wu wrote The Unheard for two tenor saxophones and electronics. Yip wrote If Winter Had No Fallen Leaves for two alto saxophones and piano. This document provides background information of the composers, program notes, performance guide, and recordings for all three works.