Much of Wil Offermans' writing is based on Japanese music so it's really interesting to be able to access his take on these beautiful songs. Five are adaptations and one is an original composition and although he is known for his use of contemporary techniques, here they are kept to a minimum. The notation itself is easily approachable so it is the performance with the digital accompaniment in a way that makes this book special. Exact timings are given in the score to help with co-ordination with the CD which means that full focus can be given to creating a different sound world for each piece. Fascinating!
These songs are part of the CD of the same name and are now available in musical notation. This book is highly recommended to those flutists who experiment with new playing techniques and who would like to discover the sounds of Japan at the same time.
Musically, the project Made in Japan refers to the super sweet sentiment one can encounter in the daily life in contemporary Japan. However, sometimes this sentiment tends to become artificial, while keeping its attractiveness.
