About the Music

Ikigai is a lovely single-movement work for bass clarinet and piano featuring dance-like interplay between the two instruments and utilizing the full range of the bass clarinet to great lyrical and expressive effect. The piece has a duration of about 4 minutes, and would make an excellent addition to a recital program for college-level or professional players. We are pleased to share the composer's note about the meaning of the title and inspiration for the work:

Ikigai is a Japanese concept that is now understood as a passion that gives joy and value to life, a purpose and a reason for being, a mission, and a vocation. All the above may summarize what the bass clarinet is to Kim Davenport, to whom this piece is dedicated.

Extended-range instrument required. Piano score: 7 pages; Part: 3 pages.

PDF Edition

Purchasing this item will give you access to download the music as a PDF. If you would prefer to purchase a hard copy, please click here.

About the Composer

Michalis Andronikou is a composer and musicologist currently residing in Calgary, AB. He holds a PhD in composition from the University of Calgary. He received his Bachelor’s and Integrated Master’s degrees in musicology from the Department of Music Studies, University of Athens, Greece. He has a Diploma in Classical Guitar, Clarinet and Music Theory from the Trinity College and the Royal Academy of Music, and a Diploma in Byzantine Music from the Argyroupolis Municipal Conservatory. Michalis gained credentials in Harmony, Counterpoint, Fugue, and Music Composition (with Theodore Antoniou) from the Hellenic Conservatory.

Moreover, he has studied Greek folk instruments such as lute, tamboura, and bouzouki. Michalis has composed music for small and large ensembles, theatre plays, art exhibits, movies, and songs. Ten CDs with his works have been released since 2003, and his scores are published by the Canadian Palliser Music Publishing, the Bulgarian Balkanota, the Italian Da Vinci Edition, the English Trübcher Music Editions, and the American Alea Publishing and Recording.

Michalis is an associate composer of the Canadian Music Centre, a member of the Canadian League of Composers, a theory examiner of the Royal Conservatory of Music, a member of the Greek Composers Union, a member of the Center of Cypriot Composers, and an Ambassador of Culture for the Hellenic Institute of Cultural Diplomacy - Cyprus.