Kuro ougi (2022)

Duo for flute and oboe

9 min

for first performance (first version)at the Konzertsaal in Universität der Künste Berlin, Germany, from 5 Juli 2022.

“Kuro ougi” translates to “black fan” in Japanese, and fans have been well-known symbols in Asian culture for many years. They symbolize not only a physical fan but also a certain form. The sound radiation of the flute and oboe takes on a fan-shaped pattern. Another significant element in this composition is the 3D Digital Universe Map, which also features an asymmetrical double fan-shaped structure that aligns with the sound characteristics of the two instruments.

The work is approached from two perspectives: firstly, it extracts the impression of the Digital Universe Map and translates it into sound, and secondly, it explores the concept of compartments by changing the physical sound position through the relationship between the players and the concert hall. The universe map is composed of small particles, with each one representing a system. Across five movements, the music provides an abstract portrayal of the physical world, depicting particles, fluids, expansions, and swift movements. By making use of the acoustic space, the music conveys to the audience that we are part of a system perceived through our senses – the “sound universe.”