We want the Sun!
Longing for light in the heart of darkness
A creative dialogue between composer, performer, and AI
dedicated to Ladislav Fanzowitz, for two voices and big band
From generative spark to Big Band score
2 voices
2 alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax
3 trumpets, trombone
guitar, piano, double bass e drums
Genesis and Vision: "We want the Sun!"
"We want the Sun!" is dedicated to the extraordinary pianist and saxophonist Ladislav Fanzowitz, a frequent collaborator.
The work stems from a precise poetic image: a handful of stones that long for stillness and sunlight, only to be cast by a child into the freezing, muddy depths of a lake. This tension between the aspiration for light and the inevitability of the fall serves as the dramatic engine for the entire score.
The collaboration with Fanzowitz continues a shared journey of sonic research and mutual esteem, recently highlighted by the performance of "I'm walkin' in your silence again" at the Nitrianska galéria (Slovakia), featuring Janka Macikova (violin) and Jakub Cizmarovic (piano).
Creative Synergy: AI as a Textual Mirror
In drafting the lyrics, I employed Artificial Intelligence as a tool for refinement and "quality control." Starting from my original dramaturgical concept of personified stones, the dialogue with AI allowed for the fine-tuning of prosody and lyrical structure.
This ensured that every verse resonated with the intended emotional tension before being translated into music. The result is a narrative where the darkness of the water becomes a metaphor for an unintended exile.
From Image to Sound: The Generative Artwork
The visual dimension followed a similar path of technological co-creation. The cover art was generated by instructing AI to capture a moment suspended between playfulness and melancholy: a child wading in lake water, low-angled sunlight, and stones in the foreground.
This "synthetic snapshot" is not merely an ornament but a visual extension of the score—an aesthetic bridge inviting the listener into the piece's sonic world.
The Craft of Orchestration
Despite the cutting-edge tools used in the embryonic phase, the heart of the project remains deeply artisanal. It took several weeks of manual labor to transform those initial sparks into a complex orchestration.
Utilizing EastWest libraries, I meticulously sculpted every section of the Big Band, translating cross-platform synergy into a professional score ready for the music stand.
