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World Premiere of Atsuhiko Gondai's Strings Between Time and Eternity in Japan

Mar. 05, 2024

On February 28, Atsuhiko Gondai’s Strings between Time and Eternity was premiered at Aichi Chamber Orchestra’s 72nd Subscription Concert at MS&AD Shirakawa Hall in Nagoya by soloist Ayana Tsuji, conductor Kazufumi Yamashita, and the Aichi Chamber Orchestra.

Like Gondai’s other recent works, Strings between Time and Eternity for violin and orchestra was also composed with si ("death" in Japanese) as its central note. Gondai has recently taken to writing his works with the hearts of suffering people in mind. For example, Gondai hoped that Si ambulem in medio umbrae mortis would be a beacon of light to all those who faced death during the coronavirus pandemic and walked on a dark path with no exit in sight. Additionally, Gondai's Chorales without Words, is a collection of chorales that could not be sung by people together due to coronavirus restrictions, and therefore was entrusted instead to be "sung" by the ‘voice’ of the viola and the ‘resonance’ of the piano.

According to the composer, this new work, Strings between Time and Eternity is a requiem for a certain person, and was written to accompany the departed soul and guide it on its eternal journey.

The violin solo was performed by Ayana Tsuji who was the commissioner and dedicatee of Gondai’s Post Festum in 2019. Her powerful and beautiful sound paying tribute to the departed soul warmly and tenderly.

Gondai hopes that while this new year began with a number of difficult events taking place in rapid succession, this performance has provided a valuable moment for listeners; a moment in which they could think about their loved ones and listen closely to their hearts.

Listen to Gondai's Falling Time to the End (2015):

Falling Time to the End/Atsuhiko Gondai/Frankfurt Radio Symphony/Andrés Orozco-Estrada, conductor

To learn more about Atsuhiko Gondai, visit schott-music.com.

Atsuhiko Gondai
Strings between Time and Eternity (2023)
for violin and orchestra
2.2.2.2-2.2.1.0-2perc-hp-str(8.6.6.4.3)
20'

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