Shadow Song was commissioned by “KYO-EN XIX, 2016,” a concert of new/unpublished works for wind band, as a part of its “The School Band Project.” This project produces new pieces for school bands, especially for smaller ensembles; therefore, the commission requires composers to create medium-grade pieces having limited instrumentation. In this work, the entire ensemble consists of small chamber-ensemble groups. They are musically connected with, and are frequently conflicted by each other, and sometimes a group performs as a “shadow” of another group. The title is derived from such a relationship. In order to create the chamber groups, players sometimes have to change their performing places, and to show conflicting relationships between groups, one may perform with different tempo, meter, and/or key from the rest. Because the piece is focused on the concept of “shadow,” In darkness let me dwell, a lute song by John Dowland (1563-1626), is quoted to symbolize those shadows, and all musical materials of the piece are derived from this song.

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