Instrumentation: soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophones
Length: 8 minutes
Composed: 2018
Commissioned: Keuris Quartet
Premiere by: September 9, 2018. Keuris Quartet. Gaudeamus Festival. Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Program Note: In Schizoid Devices the saxophone quartet transforms into a demented machine built of squeaks and pops and other percussive sounds. The piece begins with a noisy rhythmic pattern consisting of a fixed set of percussive sounds ranging from regular pitched notes to pure noise (breath sounds and consonants). These colors engage in a dynamic interplay of interlocking hocket patterns inspired by Balinese gamelan and heavy metal. The pitch and noise elements eventually join forces, playing short repeating patterns in rhythmic unison, while a slow, sustained melody appears in the background.