A three-movement sonata blending Western form with gestures inspired by Arabic musical traditions, reimagined through the unexpected voice of the soprano saxophone.
Premiered by: Steven Banks (soprano saxophone), Xak Bjerken (piano)
Venue: Kaufman Center for the Performing Arts, New York
Commissioned by: Young Concert Artists, Inc.
This sonata for soprano saxophone and piano unfolds in three movements: I. Largo, II. Vivace, and III. Pesante. The piece follows a Western formal structure while drawing on gestures and performance practices from Arabic musical traditions. Writing for the saxophone posed a unique challenge, as the instrument is not traditionally associated with Middle Eastern music. That distance, however, became a creative advantage, allowing me to reinterpret these expressive gestures through a more personal and contemporary lens.
“…a wonderful combination of grinding dissonance and just slightly off-kilter consonance…”
— Cleveland Classical
“Haddad combines an improvisation on the ney… with arpeggios from Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1… alternatively mysterious and exuberant… a haunting, lyrical dialogue…”
— Seen and Heard International
