program notes by composition > u > Unquiet Spirits

Unquiet Spirits

John Mackey

Unquiet Spirits is an adaptation of the second movement of the saxophone quartet by the same name. The movement is an off-kilter dance, full of counterpoint and ethereal melodies that evoke a sense of longing. The piece ends as it began, with an eerie fading until the sound disappears. This adaptation was commissioned by a consortium of student organizations at the University of Texas in recognition of Director Emeritus Richard Floyd.