Reachings
1st prize at the Toru Takemitsu Composition Award 2015 in Tokyo, Japan.
Winner of the ”Composers under 30” category at the 64th International Rostrum of Composers in 2017 in Palermo, Italy.
2014
Duration
15 min.
Instrumentation
3333/4331/13/1, piano, strings
Premiered by
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Kazumasa Watanabe
May 31 2015
Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Japan
Reachings is my first composition for large orchestra. In contrast to what is typical for me, I did not have a strict and fixed structure while working with the piece. Instead I progressed narratively forward – sensing what kind of music materializes next. The form of the music was thus formed gradually as the process progressed.
When building the dramaturgy I often adopted the viewpoint of the listener. Sensing how the music advanced, I developed an idea of reaching towards something, which became the central theme.
What interested me was the feeling born inside us, when we hear the music coming closer to something. My approach to Reachings was that of being on a journey to somewhere without knowing where. It creates a feeling that the music is accomplishing its destination, but just when it is reaching the point it strives for, the music is suddenly drawn back or taking a new turn. It is not about reaching the final goal but about the journey.
Past Performances
Feb 1 2017
Finnish Radio Symphony Orchestra
Conducted by André de Ridder
Music Centre, Helsinki, Finland
Aug 20 2016
UNM Orchestra
Conducted by Daniel Moreira
Symfonisk Sal, Aarhus, Denmark
May 31 2015
Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra
Conducted by Kazumasa Watanabe
Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, Japan
Sheet Music
Schott Music
Schott Music GmbH & Co. KG
Weihergarten 5
55116 Mainz
info@schott-music.com
+49 6131 246-0
Press Quotes
“Reachings struck me by its determined sense of formal plan and its realization. The music is directional, yet surprising. An intense concentration is carrying the music through the work. The music has an urge to advance, but it is done under a control so that the musical energy is well balanced, and the music breathes naturally. The range of different musical characters is large and emotionally fulfilling. The fresh quality of music reaches the very end of the piece. The orchestration is effective throughout and the score enjoyable to read in its clarity”
Kaija Saariaho, the judge of Toru Takemitsu Composition Award, May 31 2015
Listen
Finnish premiere of Reachings at the opening concert of Musica nova Helsinki 2017 Festival: