Story
Several years ago, someone told me about a rainbow that sometimes appears at night! When I was searching for an idea for a new piano piece, I decided to look for more information about it. A lunar rainbow is a natural phenomenon caused by moonlight. One of the most famous places where lunar rainbows are seen is on the island of Maui, Hawaii. Legend has it that ancestral spirits bring blessings when they cross a lunar rainbow bringing happiness to those who see it. This piece was dedicated to Mr. Camille Maurane.
La Giclée
The initial inspiration came from a small park near where I live where several water fountains cross each other and children play in and around them during the summer. The strings’ pizzicatos express “water splash” (giclée in French) – big and small, high and low.
My recent tendency for composing is to be with something inspirational throughout
The initial inspiration came from a small park near where I live where several water fountains cross each other and children play in and around them during the summer. The strings’ pizzicatos express “water splash” (giclée in French) – big and small, high and low.
My recent tendency for composing is to be with something inspirational throughout the creative process, which could be a piece of a symphony or a movie scene. This time, it was “Rhapsody in Blue” by Gershwin. It did not necessarily influence me compositionally, but rather gave me strength and support. Though I have always enjoyed his music, it was a different experience – I understood something I had never thought. A small part of the middle section in La Giclée is an homage to Gershwin.
"Sai, Inishie" for flute and marimba
Story
"Sai, Inishie"~Ancient Red, Ni~ for flute and marimba "Sai" is the Chinese character 彩, which means color or coloring. The word, "Inishie" means ancient. This expression is often found in ancient Japanese literature, such as "Manyo-shu." Recently, I have been drawn to express colors with sound. When I heard about the ancient red color, called "Ni (丹)," I wanted to use the idea in my composition, especially knowing how versatile marimba and flute are. "Ni" was an important color for our ancestors-- the color of blood, soil, and even the symbol of something spiritual. This year, Japan is celebrating the 1300th anniversary of the Nara Heijo-kyo capital (the Nara prefecture is next to Kyoto), and my imagination time-traveled to this ancient period in Japan while composing.
Spring Leaves
Story
Even though there seems to be no activity in nature during the extremely cold winter, they grow inside and wait for the right moment to bloom. My favorite time of year is when the trees are budding - that inspired me to compose this piece, imagining young leaves come out one after another.