B S

by Otto Nuoranne

for baritone saxophone and loop station

Description

B S is a 13-minute solo piece for baritone saxophone and a loop pedal. The melodic materials are transcribed from the song of the bluethroat (luscinia svecica), a passerine bird that is a virtuosic singer and a close relative of the famously vocal common nightingale (luscinia megarhynchos). Needless to say, the song had to be transposed 4-5 octaves lower for the baritone saxophone.

The title of the piece gives homage to the Baritone Sax, the Bluethroat/Sinirinta (the Finnish name of the bird), BirdSong, BaSs (for the transposition), BoSs (the manufacturer of the looper used in the composition process), and all the BullShit that composers come up with to exploit innocent creatures of nature for the advancement of our own fame and glory.

The work was commissioned by saxophonist Anna-Sofia Anttonen with the generous support of the Sibelius Fund, and it was premiered in Otto Nuoranne’s master’s concert “Autofiction” in Helsinki, Finland, on December 12th, 2025.

Instrumentation

barsax, looper

Category

Works for Solo Instrument

Premiere

Anna-Sofia Anttonen, baritone saxophone. Otto Nuoranne's master's concert Autofiction, Sibelius Academy R Building concert hall, December 12, 2025

Commisioned by / dedications

Commissioned by Anna-Sofia Anttonen

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Archive number

MF36189

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