Musashi is guided by excerpts from Miyamoto Musashi's text on strategy, Go Rin No Sho. Musical material is inspired by Honshirabe, a prominent work in shakuhachi repertoire. Throughout the piece, the fixed part is derived from samples of taiko and shakuhachi, the metallic clash and scrape of swords, and a reading of the Fudo-myoo sutra. Elements of taiko performance are also featured in both parts, particularly the concept of oroshi, a gesture in which the interval (or ma) between sonic events is reduced over time.