Komorebi

Program Note

“Nature keeps inspiring me.” When my dear friends Rebeca Ordóñez and Esteban Barquero told me they would like to have a piece for piano and Wind Symphony I had the idea to write a piece inspired by the sunlight. A few days later, Rebeca introduced me to this beautiful word in Japanese: “Komorebi” (木漏れ日) that literally is the “sunlight filtering through the foliage”

The initial ideas for the work were written at the end of 2022 and it was completed in February 2024. Throughout the piece, the Brass section will represent the sun, and the Woodwinds with some percussion instruments will represent the trees. In the first section the energy of the introduction is contrasted by the dialogue between the Piano and a choir of Brass that appears to “blend” with the other instruments in the orchestra. At the end of the first section, a “cha cha cha” serves the purpose of putting myself in the middle of the musical scene I created with something from my latin-american culture. The second section begins with the Marimba and a lyrical melody played by the clarinets. In this section, the dialogue between the Brass and Woodwinds is more evident, sometimes interrupting, complementing, or subtly shifting each other’s ideas. That dialogue will continue until the coda will close the work with a little “bolero” lasting only 9 measures in which an atmosphere of calmness will be created by the softer dynamics and the subtle dialogue between the piano, the double bass and some percussion instruments, accompanied by the air effect created by other instruments. 

With this work, I hope to create awareness about the importance of taking care of our planet and the environment, and how important it is to slow down from our busy lifestyles and experience what mother nature is giving us for free. 

• Juan Guerra González