Voyager Program -Beyond the Solar System-

Voyager Program -Beyond the Solar System- / Kazuki Shimoda [Program Notes] This piece was composed in November 2021 for Wind Works - A Small Ensemble Wind Band of Nine Brass and Woodwind Players and premiered at the Wind Works Concert in May 2022. It was later performed again in March 2024 at the 21st Century Wind Music 25th "Kyo-en" Concert under the baton of Takuma Ito, featuring 14 members of the Makuhari Sogo High School Symphonic Orchestra. The composition explores the intricate interplay of individual instruments in a minimal ensemble, while maintaining a grand and expansive theme that transcends the limitations of its small-scale instrumentation. The title, "Voyager," refers to NASA's planetary probes, celebrated for uncovering the unknown. Launched in 1977, the two Voyager spacecraft explored various planets, yielding groundbreaking discoveries. Both continue their journey beyond the solar system's outermost edge. Inspired by this theme, I aimed to encapsulate in an eight-minute composition the boundless phenomena and persistent voyage into the cosmos faced by these probes. The piece is crafted using idiomatic expressions from Hollywood film scores, which have strongly influenced my compositional style. However, unlike the large-scale orchestrations typical of Hollywood, this piece was created for a minimal ensemble, reflecting a growing trend in Japan due to demographic changes, including declining birthrates. I hope this piece conveys the vastness and grandeur of space. [Performance Notes] Although originally composed for nine players to accommodate Wind Works, the score was revised for publication in September 2024 to allow performances by ensembles of around 30 players, creating an equally powerful sound. Some parts include notes in parentheses, which should be considered optional and played based on sound balance. Additionally, the bottom line of the score labeled [Percussion (Alternative)] is designated for use when there is only one percussionist. If more percussionists are available, this part should not be performed.

(Kazuki Shimoda)