Will O’ Wisp

oboe/soprano saxophone + piano

Premiered on October 11, 2023, at Hanson Dyer Hall, Victoria, by Jasper Ly and Isabel Finucane.

Sample Score 1

Sample Score 2

Score available for purchase through the Australian Music Centre

Will o’ Wisp draws inspiration from the elusive and flickering phenomenon of the same name—an ephemeral blue or green light that drifts through shadowed marshlands and forests, vanishing when approached. In European folklore, will-o’-the-wisps have been attributed with both ominous and enchanting qualities, acting as spectral guides or trickster spirits. This work reflects their transient and mysterious nature through a score that is both prescriptive and open-ended, inviting interpretive freedom from the performers.

The piano part consists of pitch collections and graphic elements that generate a shimmering, evolving texture through improvisation. The oboe line similarly balances structure and flexibility, guiding a haunting melody that weaves in and out of the backdrop. By avoiding strict exactness in notation, the work embraces spontaneity, demanding an intuitive and responsive performance practice. Each interpretation is uniquely shaped by the performers, ensuring that no two performances are alike, much like the fleeting nature of its subject.

To further enhance the work’s sense of amorphousness, an alternate arrangement for soprano saxophone and piano offers a parallel yet distinct interpretation. These two versions function as complementary counterparts, rewarding listeners who experience both with an added layer of intrigue. The oboe and soprano saxophone share an ability to convey both playfulness and melancholy, mirroring the enigmatic qualities of the will-o’-the-wisp itself.

The piano interlude contains references to George Crumb’s Makrokosmos, playfully interwoven and re-notated within the compositional language of the piece.