Ukiyo (vibes, marimba, audio track)

"Ukiyo" was commissioned by percussionist Jeremy Fitzsimons, with financial support from Creative New Zealand and Chamber Music New Zealand. The piece incorporates the use of two CD players, which the performers operate and synchronize with the music at specific moments, adding an engaging interactive element to the composition.

Programme Note

Zen monks and haiku poets spoke of life in terms of a transient ‘floating world’ (ukiyo), or of a dream that vanishes. In the traditional Buddhist view, our corporeal existence is one in which happening gives way to happening, illusion follows illusion, and all is nothing but a phantasm void of substance.

Tsukikage o
katte ima iku
juman-ri

I borrow moonlight
for this journey of a
million miles

(Written by Haiku poet Saikaku on the verge of his death – the eighth day of the eighth month, 1730 – at the age of 70).

This work for percussion duo calls for the use of two CD players which the performers are required to operate and synchronise with the music at particular points.

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Resources

RFORMANCE MATERIALS (PHYSICAL)

DIGITAL DOWNLOAD OF SCORE, PARTS, AND AUDIO

RESEARCHERS: EXPLORE UKIYO VIBRAPHONE, MARIMBA AND DIGITAL AUDIO AT THE ALEXANDER TURNBULL LIBRARY