Tozai is a Japanese word meaning "East/West", and the performance features original music for traditional Japanese instruments, British classical music and a fusion of the two in contemporary works by British and Japanese composers.
The highlight of the event was a new work by Gavin Bryars, commissioned especially for Japan 2001. Built on themes of personal memory and interpretation, the piece explores the creative possibilities offered by the contrasting sonorities and textures of this combination of Japanese and Western instruments.
The performance also includes Elgar's Sonata for violin and piano, works by Takemitsu, Ichiyanagi and Julian Johnson, and traditional music improvised on stage by Joji Hirota and Hidekazu Kato.
