Kintsugi for orchestra

Kintsugi is the ancient Japanese art of repairing broken pottery with gold. All the pieces of a broken bowl or pot are carefully jointed back together with gold-dusted urushi (lacquer). Rather than hiding the damage, kintsugi celebrates all the cracks or 'scars' for the unique history that they represent. The object is more beautiful for having been broken.

I am personally drawn to kintsugi for a metaphor for embracing 'brokenness' and imperfection as a source of strength. This piece – originally for piano trio – is my expression and exploration of kintsugi, and involves musical fragmentation, fragility, mending and finding beauty in the 'cracks.’ I am grateful to Manakau Symphony Orchestra for commissioning this orchestral version of Kintsugi, allowing me to reimagine the piece through a wide array of instrumental colours.