Chanson pour Lucie

Chanson pour Lucie (2024) was written for and is dedicated to my esteemed friend Éric Colombain, on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday. The title of the work refers to Lucie Colombain (1927-1991), a wine maker from Alsace. In 2018, three of her nephews – including Éric –decided to breathe new life into the family’s Alsatian wine production. As a tribute to their aunt, they called their company Lucie Colombain, and under this label they now produce delicious Alsatian wines. Their beautiful wine was my source of inspiration for this solo work for alto saxophone and piano, which begins mildly with an andante and, via a short senza misura, leads to a fruity più mosso. This is briefly interrupted by a cadenza, continuing with a sparkly vibe until the music gradually settles in a subtle final note. Cheers, Éric! - Jan de Haan