for soprano saxophone, alto saxophone and orchestra (or piano)
- premiered by Timothy Sun, Hugo Loi and Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra in Macau Cultural Centre, 1 January, 2018.
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Programme Notes
The work “Zerstreutes Hinausschaun” (Absent-minded Window-gazing), written for soprano saxophone, alto saxophone and orchestra (or piano), is inspired by Franz Kafka’s short story of the same name. Published in the collection of Kafka’s “Contemplation”, this story only has three paragraphs, depicting the protagonist’s gaze of a man and a little girl over a window.
What are we to do with these spring days that are now fast coming on? Early this morning the sky was gray, but if you go to the window now you are surprised and lean your cheek against the latch of the casement.
The sun is already setting, but down below you see it lighting up the face of the little girl who strolls along looking about her, and at the same time you see her eclipsed by the shadow of the man behind overtaking her.
And then the man has passed by and the little girl’s face is quite bright.
–Franz Kafka
This work is commissioned by Macau Youth Symphony Orchestra in 2017.
Austin Yip 