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This work was created for the Berkeley Symphony's 1981-83 season poster. In those days the young conductor Kent Nagano, who was nurturing the newly established Berkeley Symphony, was a rising star in the San Francisco Bay Area. The creation of this work not only sparked my friendship with Kent, but it also inspired a new artistic beginning for me. I sensed the presence of something extraordinary in the young musician's views toward music, philosophy and life. In the courtyard of Gallery Shioh in San Francisco, we enjoyed monthly concerts, including several chamber orchestra programs led by Kent. One day Kent handed me the beautiful, unusual-looking score of a new piece called "Shioh Concerto" and said, "You are going to be the piano soloist!" The composer David Berryessa had cleverly devised a score filled with multiple colors that indicated area of the keyboard, dynamics, expressions and other musical details. The only condition was that I, who had never played the piano before, would only use the black keys of the piano. I performed the piece as piano soloist with a chamber orchestra led by Kent in a matinee and evening concert. Even though I chuckle with slight embarrassment when I think of it now, it was truly a joyous, youthful time. Today Kent Nagano is widely recognized as one of the world's greatest conductors. I have always been stuck by his elegant, gallant, beautiful and dynamic style. It was the image of Kent conducting in front of the vast majestic universe that moved me to create "The Cosmos," which I consider to be my eternal theme. A splash of silver dripping from above melts into deep cosmic space, and then rises as starts, shining in full radiance to this day. |
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