Saxophone Genders op. 9

“Saxophone Genders” is a performance created and realized in collaboration with my dear friend Raquel Luzia.

The composition is designed to be performed by two saxophonists playing, from time to time, the four main members of the saxophone family. The performance is accompanied by recorded tracks and a narrator, who impersonates Adolphe Sax.

The goal of the project is to draw a metaphor between “gender identity” and “genre identity” by showing a musical identity crisis of one of the members of the saxophone family.

The players take on diverse characters, guiding the audience through the saxophone’s history with playing, miming and reciting. By merging musical genres and gender identity, each saxophone – soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone – is linked to a specific genre, except for one saxophone that defies categorization.

The latter saxophone serves as the central character, embarking on a journey of self-discovery. The primary aim is to promote understanding and acceptance of personal identity, emphasizing the absence of a right or wrong identity.

The performance seeks to resonate with a wide audience offering insights and support to individuals who navigate their journey of self-discovery and acceptance of their gender identity.