Nishimura | Chasing Sunlight

CAIT NISHIMURA

arranged by Brian Barber

CHASING SUNLIGHT

for solo piano

PERUSALSCORE

CAIT NISHIMURA

arranged by Brian Barber

CHASING SUNLIGHT

for solo piano

PERUSALSCORE

tiiCAil NISHIMURAMUSIC

PERUSALSCORE

CAIT NISHIMURA

CHASING SUNLIGHT

arranged by Brian Barber for solo piano

Duration: 2:45

Instrumentation: Piano

Program note and publishing information:

Chasing Sunlight was the winner of the 2017 Canadian Band Association Composition Competition. The original version is performed frequently by concert bands worldwide, and is included on several festival repertoire lists and syllabi. This piano version was created during the COVID-19 pandemic, during which the music community was forced to completely reimagine its approach to music-making. We created this solo version of the piece so that individual musicians could bring it to life in a new way.

Chasing Sunlight was inspired by the experience of driving west into the setting sun, as if trying to keep up with the earth’s rotation to catch the last few rays of light before dark. The steady eighth note motif throughout the piece represents this sense of urgency, while the soaring, lyrical themes depict the warmth and radiance of the sun low in the sky. Just as the sun will always set, we must accept the impermanence of all things in life, and make the most of every opportunity before it has passed. Chasing Sunlight also represents this ongoing pursuit of these opportunities.

One dollar from every purchase of this piece will be donated to the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Thank you for helping us support this important work. To learn more, visit natureconservancy.ca

Special thanks to Brian Barber, without whom this arrangement would not exist. Thank you, Brian, for your expertise, sensitivity, and imagination.

A note to the performer:

-m22 beat 4: the bottom D is to be played by the left hand.

-m23 beat 2: both B- ats are to be played by the left hand.

-m61 beat 1: slide right hand thumb from B- at to A.

-m47 beat 1: the D is to be played by the thumb of the right hand.

Published by Cait Nishimura Music | caitnishimura.com

Distributed by Just a Theory Press | justatheorypress.com

First published in 2020; second edition published in 2025

Front cover photography and design by Cait Nishimura