Experience the captivating and supernatural world of cats, thunder, and the birth of a new god in this commissioned composition by composer and sound designer Yunyu. Using the innovative Roland Taiko-1 master drummer Ryuji Hamada plays the role of soloist and conductor as he takes listeners on a musical journey that explores the symbiotic relationships of musical cause and effect, weather systems, and divinity.
The work embodies a seamless fusion of interactive composition, instrument design, and real-time performance, empowering soloists to trigger orchestras and take on the dual role of performer and conductor. Drawing inspiration from game audio concepts like imbricate audio, vertical layering, and horizontal re-sequencing, it innovatively applies these ideas in linear compositions within a traditionally linear digital audio workstation (Logic). Treating MIDI signals akin to game triggers, Yunyu crafts a reactive and immersive piece that dynamically responds to the solo performer in real-time, allowing them to essentially "play an orchestra".
A primary breakthrough lies in the skilful conversion of soloist performance to orchestral landscapes. Each played note initiates a range of synchronised or delayed responses, creating a dynamic score that varies with each rendition. The composer plays the role of a windchime maker, shaping the sonic conditions for the player, yielding an extraordinary interplay of creative forces.
The second breakthrough centres around the inventive workflow of mapping a two-sided drum onto tuned pieces, thereby allowing the drum to perform melody-based pieces. This novel approach expands the possibilities for electronic taiko playing, transcending the limitations of only using conventional backing tracks or solo instruments.