When Barbara Ruch, Ken Aoki and Akira Takaoka approached me about
composing a piece for Gagaku instruments and computer, my first reaction
was to say "no, thank you!"  I knew nothing about writing for traditional
Japanese instruments, and my primary work as a composer has been using
the computer, a musical machine I understand.  However, one of the
big attractions of digital music technology is the timbral sound-worlds
it makes possible, and Gagaku instruments certainly inhabit an
interesting sound-world.

My wife and I had also just spent several wonderful months living on the
outskirts of Tokyo and traveling throughout the country.  It seemed
that I could approach the Gagaku writing as I approached my
time in Japan: as an outsider, fascinated by a rich and vibrant
culture.  As Jill and I journeyed to various places, I made recordings
of the sounds we heard in those places.  I use them throughout
"...DESU" (my understanding of the Japanese language particle
"desu" is that it is something of an existence qualifier - "it is").
I used various algorithmic approaches to generate the material
for the Biwa and Koto instruments.  I use the computer to magnify and
expand the sound of the Sho, a truly lovely instrument.  I have to thank
the highly skilled musicians for playing what is very non-idiomatic music
on their instruments.  

The sound recordings come from Tokyo, Machida (Tamagawagakuen), Kyoto,
Nagano, Izu, Nikko and a few other places we visited.  I hope you enjoy
this piece as much as I do, hearing the evoked memories of a happy
life-experience.