Composer's Note

Kabihasnan is loosely based on musical gestures and scale materials found in Philippine kulintang music. The piece attempts to reverse the standard roles of the instruments involved: piano and percussion emphasize melody through gong and chime-like sounds, while the flute and cello provide harmonic and timbral support. "Kabihasnan" means civilization in the Tagalog language.

Instrumentation

Flute, cello, percussion (1 player: marimba, crotales), piano

Duration

5 minutes

First Performance

9 September 2013, Conservatory Concert Hall, Singapore
Achittapol Tinnarat, flute; Xie Tian, cello; Naoto Segawa, percussion, Zyrene Estallo, piano