Land of the Rising Sun

Commissioned and dedicated to the Satellite High School Symphonic Orchestra in celebration of their invitation to perform at the 59^th annual Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, Frank Diaz and Mark Nelson, conductors. The composition is a single movement A-B-A composition depicting the Japanese art of taiko drumming. The piece begins with a mysterious flute solo (mimicking the Japanese flute – the Shakahuchi). It moves quickly into a taiko drum solo with visual and verbal chants. The orchestra slowly layers in and grows to a fully orchestrated moment. The B section once again features the flute and the strings are playing pizzicato imitating the Japanese Koto string instrument. The taiko drums return to the quick tempo and grow to a large climactic end to the piece.

Click here to visit the TRN Music site and listen to the music.