Contemporary music ensemble in Sweden

Kiruna

Rei Munakata (JP/SE)

Kiruna, the northernmost town in Sweden, is located 200 kilometres north of the Arctic Circle.  Two months of midnight sun during the summer in Kiruna provide optimal conditions for viewing the magical northern lights from September to March. Aurora Sky Station in Abisko, Kiruna, has been designated the premier location in the world to witness light phenomena. Japanese composer Rei Munakata portraits his lonely experience during his Kiruna residency in his music.

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"Around the moment the plane passed over the arctic curve, suddenly the vista from the window became clear. Perhaps it is due to the softness of the sunlight, the clarity of the air, or the severe cold, but suddenly every line, shape, and detail appears much clearer and crisper. The sound of my initial step on the fresh snow of Kiruna also carried an incredible clarity. The crunchy squeaking sound is so distinct and loud, as if the sound has been amplified with loudspeakers positioned right in front of your ears. I reached Kiruna in the winter on February 8th, 2013, at around 11 in the morning. Until my departure from Kiruna in the evening, I continuously wandered around the small city. VERY cold. Simply still, tranquil, and cold. The most remarkable experience from my time in Kiruna was the feeling of extreme slowness. Since there is absolutely NOTHING occurring, when you spot a person, you begin to see someone walking from a considerable distance. And it takes an extended time for him/her to approach you, come near you, and move away from you. Throughout this time, you hear the footsteps in the snow slowly and gradually being amplified and fading away. The sensation of slow motion amid the cold and darkness is tied to the sunlight. The sun never fully rises – only at a 30 to 40-degree angle does the sun cast weak and fragile sunlight, coloring the sky and clouds in hues of purple and pink, creating long and dark shadows of trees and buildings. It is so faint that it feels as if even the speed of light in Kiruna is in slow motion. In the far north of Sweden, it is so frigid that people tend to speak less to conserve warmth and energy within their bodies. Consequently, the greeting between two individuals can be substituted with a brief inhalation of air "shjo! " instead of saying "hello" or "how are you. "

- Rei Munakata​