Slant Rhymes

This work was written after I started reading the complete poems of Emily Dickinson, and the organist is asked to emulate the organ sound of a New England church organ in the first part of the 19th Century. The title of course refers to the type of rhyme often used by Dickinson.
However there are other references. I was fascinated by how one of the greatest American poets just took over the simple metres of the hymns she heard in her local church, at a time when American poets were using more literary poetic forms. The melody of the hymn section uses the basic Watts hymn metre of 8 6 8 6 (which Dickinson herself used).
It is certain that Dickinson knew the hymn Amazing Graze and some of her poems can be sung to that hymn. In a section about three quarters of the way through (where the saxophone plays over a low pedal note) the florid theme integrates the notes from Amazing Grace. However it is so deeply hidden that it is not recognisable, other than perhaps shaping the contour of the saxophone melody.

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Slant Rhymes C melody or Tenor saxophone : pipe organ (or digital organ or harmonium) Duration : 10 minutes 30 seconds If you would like a pdf copy of the score to study (free of charge) email : (Please copy and paste this address in to your e-mail.) Complete live recording of first performance : Slant Rhymes - live concert recording	First Performance : 7 January, 2011 St. Peter's Church, London Kyle Horch : tenor saxophone Peter Yarde Martin : organ Kyle Horch at a recording session for Islas CD.
	External links : Peter Yarde Martin Information about the organ in St. Peter's, London Slant rhymes in poetry
This work was written after I started reading the complete poems of Emily Dickinson, and the organist is asked to emulate the organ sound of a New England church organ in the first part of the 19th Century. The title of course refers to the type of rhyme often used by Dickinson. However there are other references. I was fascinated by how one of the greatest American poets just took over the simple metres of the hymns she heard in her local church, at a time when American poets were using more literary poetic forms. The melody of the hymn section uses the basic Watts hymn metre of 8 6 8 6 (which Dickinson herself used). It is certain that Dickinson knew the hymn Amazing Graze and some of her poems can be sung to that hymn. In a section about three quarters of the way through (where the saxophone plays over a low pedal note) the florid theme integrates the notes from Amazing Grace. However it is so deeply hidden that it is not recognisable, other than perhaps shaping the contour of the saxophone melody.

First Performance : 7 January, 2011 St. Peter's Church, London Kyle Horch : tenor saxophone Peter Yarde Martin : organ

First Performance : 7 January, 2011

St. Peter's Church, London

Kyle Horch : tenor saxophone

Peter Yarde Martin : organ