Air and Wind

There can be a tendency when considering the music of Toru Takemitsu, which I am not altogether going to avoid, to speak in terms of his nationality and how typical the music is of the miniaturist and delicate art of Japan. This disk of chamber music is performed by the Toronto New Music Ensemble and the dominant sound on most items is the flute of Robert Aitken. Aitken invited Takemitsu to festivals in Toronto and a friendship developed which led to many of these works being specially composed for him. They were then originally played in the presence of the composer who could give additional insights. Apart from a track for three percussion players including marimba and xylophone, the flute leads the way. Three tracks are just solo flute and others add variously viola, harp, guitar, piano and clarinet but the contributions of these other instruments is pared down and understated. That could apply to the music as a whole which has a gentle, insubstantial feel of air and wind. There is more going on here than just chill out music for relaxing, however.