Paul Richards: "Jigsaw" for English Horn and Cello
Jigsaw is assembled like a puzzle, with brief musical ideas, each a variant of those that precede it, fitted together in a broadly symmetrical layout. Though the surface of the work should sound loose and free, every musical parameter is controlled through an underlying complex of relationships. Each new idea is accompanied by a subtitle ('will-o-the-wisp', 'bagpipe tune', 'slightly tipsy', 'prison blues', 'very brief homage to Reich', 'free-range melody with caged accompaniment', and more) designed to give the performers more to play with than just the notes and rhythms.
The work was written in 2015 for the Helton-Thomas Saxophone-Cello Duo, and revised in 2017 for English Horn and Cello. It is meant to be a companion piece to Paul Richards' "Thread", for the same instrumentation. Duration is approximately 9.5 minutes. Score and parts are included in the set.