In Gentleness and Suddenness: For Shakuhachi

My purpose in writing this piece was to create a work for my colleague and friend-Jim Franklin-that captured both stillness and explosive colour moments. Shakuhachi sounds emerging from my colleague's next door office suggested an approach of a rich timbre palette of sounds "inside" the note. What eventuates in my music is an exploration of timbres inside and outside the note. This takes place via vibrato, gurgles, microtonal builds and acciaccatura pants. These colour moments are contained within a triptych structure. It moves from gentle and explosive breath sounds through to a climactic middle section emphasizing acciaccatura pants and high tessitura sounds. The music returns to the opening blues scale and panting effects quietening into silence. This form-its beginnings and momentary climaxes-are articulated by the gentle breathing and explosive attacks.