Work of the Week – Noriko Koide: Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain

Harmonising Zen and Sound: Under the baton of Elim Chan, the BBC Symphony Orchestra will deliver the UK premiere of Noriko Koide's Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain at the Royal Albert Hall, featured at the BBC Proms on July 25th, 2023.

Noriko Koide, the luminary Japanese composer, not only immersed herself in studies under the legendary Toshio Hosokawa, but also delved deeply into the enchanting world of traditional Javanese gamelan music. Each composition she crafts is a unique journey, intimately moulded by an original musical style that impeccably matches its theme. Through innovative orchestration, nuanced musical forms, and the use of extended techniques, she breathes life into unique and individual textures and sounds.

Delicacy and thoughtfulness: Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain by Noriko Koide

Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain draws its power from the unspoken. The work's poetic title hints at its form: A dynamic slowly develops from recumbent sounds, in which Koide uses larger musical gestures sparingly. Rhythmically accentuated movements are carefully added, like delicate brush strokes on a sheet of canvas. This makes the piece seem delicate but also deliberate. 

Western music language and gamelan music language often have the exact opposite direction, and I'm finally starting to feel like Mac (Macintosh) and Windows are installed together. (Noriko Koide)

Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain was commissioned by BBC Radio 3 and will be available to listen to live and on BBC Sounds after the concert.

Links:

Noriko Koide: Composer Profile

Swaddling Silk and Gossamer Rain: Work Details and Online Score

Website BBC Symphony Orchestra

BBC Radio Broadcast/Recording

Foto: Adobe / Goldengel