Ascents: A Program of New Works

Internationally acclaimed saxophonist Dr. Don-Paul Kahl and pianist Dr. Daniel Linder present Ascents, a program of new works by composers from Harvard University and Boston University. 

Developed in collaboration with the composition departments at both institutions, Ascents explores ideas of transformation, perception, and how musical meaning takes shape over time. The program features world premieres and reimagined works by Victor Arul, Eunji Lee, Maximiliano A. Soto Mayorga, Thomas Santore, and Yotam Haber, alongside a new arrangement of Chaya Czernowin’s The last leaf.

Each piece approaches these ideas from a different angle. Arul reflects on gesture and memory, while Lee explores shifts in perception and instability. Soto Mayorga’s Ostrzeżenie (Warning) follows with repeating sets of multiphonics that resist settling, creating tension within familiarity. Czernowin’s The last leaf, reimagined for soprano saxophone, transforms its literary origins into a fragile and focused sound world. Santore’s …and the very dust… contrasts lightness and weight, allowing density to emerge from delicate sonic material. The program concludes with Haber, whose large-scale saxophone and piano work reflects on migration, history, and cultural identity.

Throughout the concert, particular attention is given to the relationship between sound and perception. Both Daniel and Don-Paul, through the program, invite listeners into a space where sound, structure, and meaning remain fluid and open to interpretation.