sawari
Japanese composer
Definition
A Japanese aesthetic quality of subtle roughness or impurity in timbre. Originally describing a specific tonal quality on the shamisen and biwa, Takemitsu translated this concept into piano writing through tone clusters and close voicings that introduce slight dissonance within an otherwise consonant surface.
Interpretive Guidance
Do not over-smooth dissonant aggregates. The slight roughness is intentional — resist the urge to clarify or balance away the timbral complexity.