By 1995, I had already written a couple of pieces featuring saxophonist David Mott. He and three others formed a sax quartet in Toronto called Forty Fingers. It’s hard to remember now, but I believe Nic Gotham approached me about writing for the quartet. I didn’t hesitate to take on the project.

A saxophone quartet can conjure many things but I really wanted something big and bright musically for this piece with some nuance to make the brights brighter. “Sunflower” is not an easy piece technically, but Forty Fingers rose to the challenge. The piece was written over 1995/96 and premiered in 1996. Sunflower was commissioned with the financial assistance of the Ontario Arts Council.