WIND CHANNEL for Alto Saxophone and Piano（2016）

Ancient Thai medicine is based on the idea that the human body consists of the four elements earth, water, wind and fire, the correct balance between them resulting in a healthy physical constitution. Physicians trained in this concept treat their patients in line with a three-pronged approach embracing Massage, Samunprai (therapy using natural drugs) and Rew-Sii Dat-ton (exercises similar to yoga aimed at getting the body in good shape and involving various spontaneous movements).
Gaining a hint from this traditional approach to medicine, I have composed a work in three sections that explores the wide variety of tone colour available to the combination of saxophone and piano.

1. Wind Channel
This section for saxophone solo is inspired by ‘massage’, which involves transmission of energy by means of the human hand. ‘Wind Channel’, the title of the work as a whole, refers to a point on the groin which, when pressed for 35 seconds, enables fresh blood to circulate through the body.
2. Hua Phlai
Hua phlai is the name of a herb used in Samunprai therapy. In addition to its medicinal properties it creates a soothing effect with its refreshing orange scent. In this section I have attempted to create a soft sound world extending beyond the sense of hearing to include an intimation of the sense of smell.
3. Rew-Sii Dat-ton
This section focuses on rhythm. It begins with hard sounds in the saxophone’s lower register. The pulse at the core of the section as a whole is based on the heartbeat.

I should like to take this opportunity to thank Nobuya Sugawa and Michiyo Haneishi, who gave this work its first performance, and Takayuki Nii and Yuko Inui from Zen-On Music, who enabled its publication.
Wind Channel is dedicated to the memory of my esteemed teacher, the late Akira Nishimura.