Big Fat Dose (2024)
Instrumentation: Saxophone Orchestra (SnoSSAAAATTTTBBB)
Length: 4'00
 
The fourth movement from The Last Tree.
“It's really cold outside, they are calling it a major freeze, weeks ahead of normal. Man, we could use a big fat dose of global warming!" – Donald Trump
 
This movement provides a musical caricature of perhaps one of the most dangerous men on earth. This movement was written before Donald Trump’s re-election, however it has now gained a new poignancy. If one of the most powerful world leaders cannot understand (or wilfully ignores) the science surrounding climate change and actively calls for global warming, how much damage could he do to the planet? I asked ChatGPT to imagine the programme note that Donald Trump might write for this piece and the result appears painfully plausible:
 
“Let me tell you something – Big Fat Does is huge. It’s the greatest blues piece you’ve ever heard, believe me. Nobody knows blues like I do. This song is big, it's bold, and it’s got everything – the drama, the tension, the beautiful chord changes. The chord sequence? Oh, it's amazing. 21 bars, people. It’s ambitious, just like everything I do. Some people would say it’s too complicated, but those people are probably losers. It’s genius, actually – a brilliant way to break the mold. You listen to it and you just know – this is a game-changer. The rhythm is tight, the chords are strong – this is a blues song that stands tall, like a Trump Tower in the middle of Manhattan. You can’t miss it. And let me tell you, the swing? Absolutely fantastic. No one swings like I do.”
 
Recorded on the album The Last Tree.
 
Digital download of score and parts (PDF)