English composer, Japanese composer? Reflections on the Japanese influence in my music
My musical timeline.
Reflections: A subconscious Japanese influence before I even got to Japan? Are there fundamental similarities between British music and Japanese music?
Memories of Japan: An experiment, or an awakening? Recording
The very English pieces: Mill Suite, The Greatest is Love, A Christmas Carol
The pieces about Japan: Rainy Day, Joya no Kane, Shigeru’s War
Experiences in Japan: Trio Concertante, Quartet in C
The two techniques: Musical code, harmony in steps.
It all comes together in Sinfonia Concertante …
After the talk … try listening to this. It is regularly voted Britain’s favourite piece of classical music, but isn’t it also a bit Japanese …?!