To the Air of Time for violin and piano (1996)

"To the Air of Time" was commissioned by Kazuki Sawa and Emiko Tadenuma for their commemorative Duo Recital to mark the 20th anniversary of the formation of the Duo.

From delicately floating mist-like sounds is spun a thread of an "Air of Time". This "Air" gradually becomes a bigger flow and eventually develops into a powerful swell. The long history of music for violin and piano has nutured wonderful subtle combinations of sounds within which I am willing to search for a light of a new sound. Layers of numerous sounds will give birth to an eternal time. In the moment when I let myself free in this eternal time, in that precious moment I am discovering a limited time of a life and an eternal time of a soul.

ISAO MATSUSHITA 1996

Footnote: Atsuko Sahara is a pupil of Kazuki

Isao Matsushita obtained both his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music. Matsushita has participated in several music festivals, such as the "World Music Days of International Society of Contemporary Music ISCM Festival in Graz 82". "Horizonte Festival Berlin '85", "European Music Days Copenhagen '85", "Inventions Festival Berlin '86" and so on.

His composition "TOKI-NO-ITO I Threads of Time for String Quartet" took first prize in the Moenchengladbach International Composition Competition in West Germany in 1985. In 1986, Matsushita gained the seventh annual Irino Prize with "TOKI-NO-ITO II Threads of TIme for Piano and Orchestra." He is Professor of Shobi Gakuen College and also a lecturer at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.