The request to add saxophone and piano to a woodwind quintet ensemble (with the possibility of replacing the piano part with percussion) was challenging.

The most significant feature of this arrangement is the "independence" of each instrument. In other words, the timbres don't easily blend together. Creating homogeneous harmonies is difficult. On the other hand, due to the large number of instruments, it is also difficult to attempt a linear interplay. Handing over the sonic structure to the piano is also challenging when considering the possibility of replacing it with percussion. Therefore, I aimed to realize the "interest in separating each instrument from the tutti." The result coincidentally worked for this ensemble, which bears the name "various lights."

The piece comprises four short movements, each focusing on different musical elements. The first movement, "Unison" exposes each instrument individually from the tutti. The second, "Harmony" contains the separation and integration of chord tones. The third, "Melody," explores the blending arising from lines. The fourth, "Pulse," expresses various time flows.

(Yoshio Nakahashi)