For this 2010 competition, composers were invited to submit compositions for any combination of:
Shakuhachi with Piano Trio (Piano, Violin and Cello). Entries were received from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, China, Cyprus, Greece, Hong Kong, Iran, Italy, Japan, USA & Venezuela.
We are pleased to advise the winning compositions:

SECOND PRIZE Michalis Keffalas (Greece) : "Aegean Moments"

THIRD PRIZE Amirhossein Eslami Mirabadi (Iran) : "Seasons"

more details

We thank sincerely all those who supported this event and especially the composers who devoted the considerable time and energy into creating their works.

recorded in Melbourne 2008

Ki-e "Devotion"
for shakuhachi, guitar, violin, viola, cello
Satoru IKEDA (2008)

In most Western Music, structure is "developing". On the other hand, in Japanese traditional music, it is circular. Music begins in silence, then it becomes sometimes majesty, tenderly, furious, or weeps. By going through the repetition of small phrases, music creates expanded dimensional world.
I tried to imitate a particular sound of Biwa by using guitar. I especially chose a trio formation for string instruments, as I would like each of viola and cello to be equal to the violin. The conversation of three gives tension.
Ki-e is a Japanese word of Buddhism, for "devotion". The pronunciation of the word coincidentally resembles another religious word of "Kyrie” (a form of prayer). Also, it hints the tonality of this piece, E-minor; Key-E.
The performance techniques present notable difficulties in a few completely novel situations: an audacious movement of ‘expansion’ of the respective traditions of the two instruments pushed as they are at times to the limits of the possible, the aim being to have the shakuhachi and the guitar playing on the same level and with virtuosity (two instruments that are culturally and acoustically so dissimilar), thus increasing the expressive range, the texture of the dialogue, the harmonic dimension and the tone-colour. The listener can either follow this music in all its minute and complex particulars, or let himself be freely transported by his own vision and dream in no specific direction.

Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
Guitar:Kanishka Karunaratne
violin: Aaron Barnden
viola: Ceridwen Davies
cello: Caerwen Martin

13th December 2008 at Melba Hall, The University of Melbourne