Musique soliste (sauf voix) (Piano solo)

The reason for choosing the title Echo Within was because my favourite music is called Beast Within, composed by Elliot Goldenthal – one of my teenage idols – for the soundtrack to the film Alien 3. I had many idols when I was teenager (the others were Ryuichi Sakamoto, Guns ‘n’ Roses (!), David Sylvian and Thomas Newman) but Goldenthal is still one of my favourite composers.

But Echo Within has nothing to do with Alien 3. It was written for my very good friend Atsuko Niki’s Wigmore Hall début recital. I couldn’t call it ”Beast Within” – she isn’t Sigourney Weaver or an alien . . . nor does she have a shaved head!

I find this piece very romantic, although it is imbued with a contrary atmosphere. More as though romanticism is experiencing claustrophobia, and I like that. It almost has the lyricism of Takeshi Kitano’s film Hana-bi.

Dai Fujikura.