Utpala
Score title
Utpala
Composer
Akira Nishimura
More about the composer
Date
Instrumentation
Library copy
Program note
This piece for clarinet solo is my third work which I devoted to Professor Karl Leister, following the clarinet concerto "Kavira", the clarinet quintet "Bardo I". As is the case of the previous two works, I obtained a lot of advice from Professor Leister while composing.
The title Utpala is Sanskrit for a water lily. In Buddhism, water lily, which produces a beautiful flower on water surface, is considered as the holy plant.
The reason may be that the pure and shiny flower, which blooms even on stagnant and dark water, makes people feel the purification of soul, the pure state of enlightenment, and a great peace in Paradise. The subject of this work is spiritual pain, compassion (karuna) and purification. The clarinet plays swaying sacred melody alternating static and dynamic motion in a wide register.
Akira NISHIMURA
The title Utpala is Sanskrit for a water lily. In Buddhism, water lily, which produces a beautiful flower on water surface, is considered as the holy plant.
The reason may be that the pure and shiny flower, which blooms even on stagnant and dark water, makes people feel the purification of soul, the pure state of enlightenment, and a great peace in Paradise. The subject of this work is spiritual pain, compassion (karuna) and purification. The clarinet plays swaying sacred melody alternating static and dynamic motion in a wide register.
Akira NISHIMURA