In the summer of 2014, I spent three months in Japan exploring both traditional and contemporary culture, daily life, and ritual. I visited countless temples, listened to their bells, and wandered through gardens—each place breathing with its own distinct rhythm. The way these experiences influenced my perception of time was deeply fascinating.
Shadow of Bells for piano and electronics brings these memories into my musical world, not as an attempt to replicate any existing structure or specific musical source, but as a personal reflection. The electronics serve as a shadow to the piano, creating an acoustic space that surrounds and interacts with the instrument.
This composition unfolds like a meandering journey through imagined landscapes of stillness and resonance. Fluid, crystalline passages, sparse lines, expansive chords, and lyrical moments shift rapidly, mirroring the sonic contrasts within a society rich in diversity.
The theme of slowness has been central to many of my recent works. Once again, this piece invites the listener to step away from the fast pace of daily life and immerse themselves in small details, discovering their subtle transformations over time.