Satoyama for two marimbas (2015) means “journey” in Japanese. Inspired by minimalism, its three movements have an obsessive character marked by a relentless rhythm and great virtuosity, but poetry is not absent.

The first movement opens with a short prelude of an improvisatory nature, followed by a frantic sixteenth-note dialogue between the two marimbas, which ends with the evocation of the prelude at the beginning. The second movement is dramatic in character and is based essentially on an obstinate bass over which an expressive melody develops. The last movement presents various elements that eventually overlap until the brilliant conclusion.

A piece destined to take its place alongside Steve Reich’s famous Nagoya Marimbas. The dedicatees, Pierre Quiriny and Antoine Dandoy, gave the world premiere in 2015.