Low Expectations

Bass saxophone

In his titles, the composer has always liked to transpose the meaning of popular or common expressions into another context – a sort of semantic diversion. Here, the title refers to the lowest instrument of the saxophone family: the bass saxophone. 

There are very few works for bass saxophone solo. “Low Expectations” explores the technical, timbral and expressive possibilities of this unique instrument in a contemporary language. Robert Lemay often integrates extended techniques, but always in a unified and coherent language. This piece is no exception.