Originally commissioned by violinist Natsuko Katoh, composed in January 2014. Versions for: - vlno, p - vlno, synt - vlno, p, synt - vlno, cl, guit, p, vcello Other settings possible. This is electronic demo of version for vlno, p, synt.
chamber work
Story behind the song
Originally I was asked to make simple variations on Japanese folk song Harukoma sung during o-bon festival (Japanese memory of dead people) in August in mountain city Gujo-Hachiman in Gifu prefecture. Joyful holiday full of lights, bonfires, fireworks, night dancing in the streets, good drinks, food and entertainment shared with souls of dead people who are allowed to return to the places they lived once...
Immediately I had an idea to connect it for the contrast with European, Christian Catholic Gregorian Chants used for dead people, so I have selected those used in Requiem (including famous Dies Irae which was used by many composers).
Contrast of joyful fast Japanese dance folk song and very sad, slow Catholic chant works well and shows different attitude to the death in both cultures.
Melodies are not only varied and chained but combined together as well.