B S
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.
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.
The sheet music is available through the Music Finland Core service.