Kacho-Fugetsu for marimba and Japanese Drum (Percussion Ensemble)

Kacho-Fugetsu was composed in 2006, inspired by the elegant and atmospheric seasons of Japan.

The piece consists of a suite in four movements, spring, summer, fall, and winter, with the theme of flowers in spring, birds in summer, wind in fall, and the moon in winter, and I chose the most memorable and beautiful scenes for me in each season. The piece can be performed with each movement on its own.

The opening movement of the piece, Cherry Blossom Banquet, is an elegant and ethereal scene of a solemn procession of brides passing by as the petals of the cherry blossoms fall without a sound.

Seabird Dance was composed with the image of sea birds gracefully dancing among the rough waves breaking the rocks. The Japanese drum represents the sea and rough waves, while the marimba represents the dancing sea birds.

Autumn Breeze is a joyful piece set to the rhythm of an Oayashi which is traditional Japanese festival music. I composed this piece with the image of a scene where festival music can be heard from far away on a slightly chilly autumn breeze.

The final movement of this piece, Moon Lullaby, evokes the image of a winter night with the moonlight reflecting beautifully on the snow, a gentle and warm scene of a crackling fireplace in the house, and a quiet and happy moment when one hears a gentle lullaby as one slowly slumbers.

Instruments

Player 1: Marimba:5 octaves(C-C)

Player 2: Shime-daiko (high / low), Miya-daiko, O-daiko, Hira-daiko. Kagura-bell. Japanese wind bell (high / low)

Duration: approx. 15’00”