[DOWNLOAD] Kaleidoscope II - Percussion Quartet

Commissioned for Terada Yumi's Percussion Ensemble "Drive". This is my first work for percussion ensemble.

Opportunities to study live percussion ensembles are spectacular at ensemble contests in Japan.

There are many educational and artistic compositions by Japanese composers nowadays. They are often mesmerizing, and this challenged me to compose something different from other contest pieces.

This composition is about rhythm. Instead of writing romantically, I based my piece on rhythmic elements, and precise accuracy brings forth the sheer excitement of this music. I aimed for the musical intensity of the famed minimalist composer Steve Reich. His unique yet extremely artistic composition is seldom considered romantic though it touches listeners' hearts.

The title (Japanese) is based on three main materials used for our instruments: wood, hide, and metal. The music reflects the ever changing pattern of sounds from using all of these materials.

(Kei Misawa)