homonym (2013)

Commission: Amigo Saxophone Quartet

Instrumentation: soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones

Alternate Instrumentation: string quartet (2 violins, viola, cello)

Duration: 6 minutes

Program Information:
homonym noun /ˈhäməˌnim,ˈhōməˌnim/
definition: two words having the same pronunciation but different meanings, origins, or spelling

The work homonym is inspired by Singlish and other languages and dialects spoken in Singapore. An example of a homonym typically heard in Singapore is orh (Singlish) which is a grunt of acknowledgement and or (English). The three saxophone quartets — homonym (2013), heteronym/ (2016) and cryptonym: (2018) may be performed one after another.

Premiere:
July 6 2013 | Amigo Saxophone Quartet | Lee Hsyan Hall, Hong Kong

Performances:
July 7 2013 | Amigo Saxophone Quartet | The Mandarin’s House, Macau
July 20 2013 | Amigo Saxophone Quartet | Lee Foundation Theater, Singapore
January 11 2015 | New Thread Quartet | Jan Huus Church, New York NY
July 8 2015 | Amigo Saxophone Quartet | Kapel van het Sint-Hubertuscollege, Neerpelt, Belgium
July 10 2015 | Amigo Saxophone Quartet | Cité de la musique et de la danse, Strasbourg, France
May 14 2016 | Ancia Saxophone Quartet | Studio Z, St Paul MN
May 15 2016 | Ancia Saxophone Quartet | Weissman Art Museum, Minneapolis MN
May 8 2017 | NEP Chamber Players | Boston Athenaeum, Boston MA (alternate instrumentation)
July 10 2018 | NAFA Saxophone Quartet | Teatar &TD, Big Hall, Zagreb, Croatia
August 11 2018 | NAFA Saxophone Quartet | Lee Foundation Theater, Singapore
March 4 2022 | New Thread Quartet | Grace Church Van Vorst, Jersey City, NJ