Vicinities is based on impressions I got from a visit to Japan, where three major musical experiences made an impact on the different movements.
First movement - In the Vicinity of the Open Sky - is influenced by a meeting with one of the worlds foremost Shakuhachi players, Tajima Tadashi. The Shakuhachi is the most ”noble” of the Japanese instruments and has a tradition that reaches back to the 14th century. The most famous piece in this tradition is ”Kokû” which translates to ”The Open Sky”.
Second Movement - In the Vicinity of Intimacy - is influenced by world class performances of classical chamber music at the Takefu Festival. Musicians like Eduard Brunner, Rohan de Saram and the Diotima String Quartet are all musicians that perform both contemporary music as well as the classics on the highest level.
Third movement - In the Vicinity of Noise - is influenced by a visit to a Noise Club in Tokyo. Noise Music is a genre that has been developed mostly in Japan even if it traces its beginning to Germany with the Industrial Rock scene and bands like Einstürzende Neubauten.
Jesper Nordin.