Tune of the Day: Pledge by Paul Merkus
Today's piece was kindly contributed to our collection by its composer, Paul Merkus from the Netherlands.
The “Pledge” was originally written for alto saxophone and piano in 2014, but has been transcribed for flute and piano by octavating the flute part. The original intent was to exploit the sultry character of the low register of the alto saxophone, while contrasting it with passages in a higher position.
Hence, the piece begins with a questioning in the low register. After a first phrase, the questioning becomes a bit more impatient, with staccato notes and an exclamation. Then the main theme gradually unfolds with rhythmic evolution, followed by an interlude and a second theme, first rising, then falling. This pattern repeats before leading into an epilogue, in which the questioning return one final time.