Seirei no mori = "The forest of spirits

Seirei no mori is Japanese for “The Forest of Spirits.” The predominant influence for this piece comes from Hayao Miyazaki’s animated films, specifically the ones accompanied by Joe Hisaishi’s scores. At an early age, probably around the time I started playing trumpet, I remember watching Miyazaki’s Spirited Away and hearing a particular moment in the score that really struck me. It featured the low brass playing these enormously powerful perfect fifths followed by the trumpets and trombones playing a brief melodic figure, also in fifths. This was one of the first times I was actively curious as to why I enjoyed a particular musical moment and possibly the spark that ignited the desire to write my own music. Seirei no mori is an homage to the influence that Japanese film and video game music has had on me throughout my life.

The work depicts a forest filled with spirits both peaceful and terrifying. The first part of the piece titled “Summoning the Kodama” (kodama is a term that can refer to any sort of forest spirit) begins with a dialogue between the spirits and those who are attempting to summon them. During this interaction, the forest’s theme is introduced in the pizzicato cello and bass. The music picks up after the spirits are summoned, with flowing melodic lines representing the peaceful spirits. However, the peace is interrupted by the dark spirits, “The Oni and the Yokai” (oni are roughly translated as demons and yokai refers to supernatural monsters in general). During the second half of the piece, the piccolo introduces a traditional Japanese folk tune that serves as the basis for much of the following musical material. The drums drive the music forward as they emulate the sound of traditional taiko drummers. After these evil spirits, and possibly a trickster spirit or two, seem to fade away, there is a plea for peace in the forest once again by the lonely piccolo. How are the piccolo’s pleas answered? You’ll have to listen to find out…