The first version of Caliban was written just before starting work on a ballet for Birmingham Royal Ballet with choreographer David Bintley. A short piece for saxophone and piano, it is one of a series of character sketches exploring facets of the main players in Shakespeare’s The Tempest.
The saxophone for me embodies the hybrid creature of the play; however, in the orchestral ballet score, Caliban’s signature ‘saxophone’ sound is represented by horn and bassoon in unison.
In this new version, I had the opportunity to use real saxophones, and they feature strongly. The music is edgy and rhythmic, depicting the half human and resentful slave of Prospero. The central section shows a more reflective side: in spite of his abrasive nature, one of the most beautiful passages in the play is delivered by Caliban (‘Be not afear’d; the isle is full of noises’).
Caliban for saxophone and piano was commissioned by Richard Ingham to celebrate the Adolphe Sax bicentenary 2014, with funds from Creative Scotland, and premiered by Richard Ingham and the composer in February 2014.
The score for David Bintley’s ballet The Tempest was commissioned by Birmingham Royal Ballet and premiered at Birmingham Hippodrome in October 2016.
This new version, Caliban for Orchestra, was jointly commissioned by the Street Orchestra of London and the Ricciotti Ensemble.