-shikaku- (2013)

​日本語：しかく

for Chamber Orchestra constructed of four ensembles and electronics

ca. 10 min.

4 Flutes

3 Clarinets in B-flat

1 Bass Clarinet in B-flat

​

1 Horn in F

1 Trumpet

1 Trombone

1 Tuba

​

1 Timpani (28")

1 Vibraphone

1 Bass Drum

2 Guillo

1 Wind Chime

1 Sleighbell

1 Thunder Sheet

1 Marimba (4.3 oct.)

1 Drum Set

1 Lione (Lion's Roar)

1 Temple Blocks

2 Snare Drums

4 Suspended Cymbals of different sizes

1 Tubular Bells

1 Prepared Piano

​

Electronics

​

2 Violins

1 Viola

1 Cello

​

Additional sound engineer required

Request score and Max patch files HERE

Everyday Listening -sonic inspiration- (Feb. 1, 2015)

​

Sunny with a Chance of Beetle (Feb. 3, 2024)

Arima Prize 2014 (Japan)

Columbia University School of the Arts Dean's Grant Spring 2016 (USA)

Some time ago, I consistently experienced a recurring dream wherein In every dream, I found myself navigating through complete darkness in search of an elusive "something". Despite the lack of understanding regarding the purpose of my visitation, I did it anyways as I felt the overwhelming compulsion. The enigmatic nature of this pursuit soon became evident, as this "something" manifested in varying dimensions, forms, and textures on a nightly basis. Despite these morphological alterations, there existed an unequivocal continuity that established the identity of this "something". Upon coming to contact with this "something", I felt a sense of tranquility, culminating in a prompt and gratifying awakening, just to continue the dream the next night.

shikaku reflects the story of “The Blind Men and An Elephant”, where a group of blind men touch an elephant, each feeling a different part of the animal, and discussing it. Argument breaks down when the men starts to claim that an elephant was a thin, floppy, fan-like creature, as another states that it was a smooth, solid being. Not one man’s statement is untrue, as those are the precise features of an elephant.

​

The concept of shikaku comes from its Japanese homophones "四角" (square) and "死角" (blind spot), which all are pronounced as "shikaku". The setting of this work is designed so that the music, with deliberate blind spot, is delivered to all audiences surrounding the chamber orchestra. Audiences on each of the four sides and angles of the chamber orchestra will, with the blind spot, have a diverse aural experience.

​

shikaku submerges the audiences into diverse acoustical pockets where each listener will have their own story at the end of the performance. Each of the chamber orchestra stations consists of one brass player, a string player, a woodwind player, and two percussionists. Instrumentalists facing the exterior of the shikaku will play according to the conductor who appears in real-time on the analog television monitors located in every station. 

January 24, 2014 (World Premiere)

-shikaku-

[Video Archive]

Kunitachi College of Music, Tokyo, Japan

Students of Kunitachi College of Music and Toho College of Music

Oct. 10-12, 2014

Audio Visual Synthesis Workshop at Dartmouth

Curated by Andy Sarroff (Dartmouth College)

Dartmouth College Music Department, Hannover, NH

Exhibition of scores and video of shikaku (2013)

​

Dec. 6, 2014

Brad Garton Memory Book App Release

Curated by Douglas Repetto

Computer Music Center at Columbia, New York, NY

Exhibition of video of shikaku (2013)

​

April 16, 2015

Interdisciplinary Arts Council Spring 2015 Exhibition

Curated by IAC

Columbia University, New York, NY

Exhibition of video of shikaku (2013)

​

Aug. 6-28, 2016

Finished Goods Warehouse: Columbia MFA Summer Show

Curated by Natalie Bell (The New Museum)

Former Pfizer Factory, New York, NY

Exhibition of scores of Shiki to Unkai (2013), shikaku (2013), and Cover Your Ears! (2015)