The Saxophone Music of Jacob ter Veldhuis: A Discussion of Pitch Black, Garden of Love, and Buku

Abstract

The purpose of this document is to examine the role of Jacob ter Veldhuis’ music in the saxophone community. His music is frequently programmed on recitals, but has received limited scholarly attention at this point. This document is based on readings of the available relevant literature, an interview with the composer to explore his musical influences and unique aesthetic, and original musical analysis. The paper was primarily created for a lecture recital and focuses on his saxophone works Pitch Black, Garden of Love, and Buku. Specific compositional devices will be discussed in addition to performance considerations for each piece. The paper examines important influences on the creation of this music including musique concréte, early electronic minimalism, hip hop, jazz, and American pop culture. The ultimate goal of this project is to provide saxophonists an introduction into the workings behind ter Veldhuis’ music and to make players of various backgrounds aware of a repertoire that combines many qualities of saxophone sound that are more typically divided into different genres.