Programs

Karen Tanaka: Techno Etudes

"The concert began with Japanese composer Karen Tanaka’s three Techno Etudes. As the name suggests, they were originally conceived to synchronise with existing techno music, but the composition seems to have taken on a life of its own for Tanaka. The techno was dropped, but its character remained, the music built on percussive beats, repetition, and speed. Kigawa’s playing was unexpectedly lyrical despite the fast tempos. The short, percussive phrases were finely shaped and defined, so that the three pieces felt as much as anything like remixes of Scriabin." - Brendan Finan, The Journal of Music, IRELAND