Hollyhock

The inspiration for this piece came from an article about hollyhocks blooming in areas affected by the 2024 Noto Peninsula Earthquake. These flowers had been planted by residents of Wajima City, Japan, approximately 20 years ago, as an effort to enhance the beauty of the rural landscape along the edges of rice fields. After the earthquake in January 2024, many residents moved into temporary housing, making it difficult to maintain the flowers. However, as blossom season arrived, the hollyhocks could be seen extending their sturdy stems and blooming vibrantly amid the rubble of collapsed buildings. Their resilience not only encouraged those affected by the disaster but also embodied the very hope and determination for the region's recovery, bringing strength to the local community. This piece was composed with the image of these flowers in mind. Although not explicitly noted in the score, the second voices of each section overlap with other parts, ensuring that the piece can be performed with one player per part. I would be delighted the ensemble could envision the resilient and dignified beauty of the hollyhocks while delivering a warm and heartfelt sound.

(Hirokazu Fukushima)