Two impressions of kihei sasajima

Kihei Sasajima was a Japanese woodblock print artist of the mid-20th century. The contrasting movements of this piece loosely reflect two of the artist’s prints, which appear to depict the same group of trees swaying in the wind. When comparing these two images, one notices a number of key differences in character. Trees in the Wind (1960) features simpler yet starker figures, sharper angles, and a higher contrast between the hue of the paper and the black ink. Wind in the Forest (1959) utilizes more smooth, flowing lines, and presents the scene in a calmer yet darker atmosphere overall. Taking inspiration from this dichotomy, the corresponding movements of Two Impressions share a multitude of musical gestures, but contrast significantly in the moods and contexts in which these gestures appear.

Performed by Ethan Lorentz (guitar) and Kassandra Lopez (alto flute)