In 2005, I composed The Earth as a commission from Rocky Mountain High School in Colorado, USA. Just before that, I had written two pieces, March of Mars and A Jupiter Fantasy, so I decided to group these three works under the title Trilogy, and they were performed together for the first time.
Fast-forward to 2024. The Soka University Pioneer Wind Orchestra commissioned me to revise this piece, and I gave it a new title: Peace on Earth. I revised the orchestration throughout the work and made changes to the ending. This new version is designated as [Version B], while the revised original version is referred to as [Version A], and both versions are included.
By coincidence, the ending of [Version A] concludes with a solo oboe holding a C, which flows beautifully into my piece Peace, Peace, so Sing the Birds. The combination of these two works creates a spectacular 19-minute performance. How about trying this dramatic pairing?
As for the Trilogy initially envisioned at the premiere, what happens now? Since each of these three pieces is a standalone work, there's no need for concern?they can still be performed independently.
Program Notes at the premiere:
The Planets, Trilogy for Band ITO Yasuhide (1960~ )
1. March for Mars
2. The Earth
3. A Jupiter Fantasy
ROCKY MOUNTAIN WINDS
ITO YASUHIDE, CONDUCTOR
These three pieces were composed on different occasions. Tonight, it is the world premiere of all three pieces as the Trilogy.
A Jupiter Fantasy was first composed six years ago for one event in Japan. Arranged upon Jupiter from the suite The Planets by G. Holst, I combined its beautiful melody with the Chorus and piano. Since then, I wrote more than ten various versions using the melody of Jupiter so far. This is one of them and for band version. For tonight's concert, I added several parts for the large band. It was when the Mars had a great approach to the Earth that I was inspired and wrote a small piece for piano using the four-fifth measures of the Mars by Holst.
My March for Mars was used as an audition piece for the assistant conductor of the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra. And for tonight, I have remade the instrumentation for the large band. Through these experiences, my intention has moved to composing another suite of The Planets.
I realized that Holst didn't compose a piece named The Earth, which I composed afterwards, commissioned by the Rocky Mountain High School.
The earth where we live now is not so much peaceful in these days. Wars and terrorisms and also big earthquakes with TSUNAMI are all striking throughout this era. Hoping for peace on the earth, I used the German verse Friede auf Erden (Peace on the Earth) by Ferdinand Meyer. This poem is known as the acapella chorus piece by A. Schoenberg. Considering this beautiful chorus, I decided to use the well-known old melody Agnus Dei (the Lamb of God) at the ending of this piece. The Latin verse Agnus Dei also includes the word "Dona nobis pacem" (give us the peace). Therefore, this The Earth became the piece which has a message for granting peace. I would like to wish peace for our earth and the peace for the universe.
I'm very grateful that I have the opportunity to premiere this Trilogy composed in different time and different styles. I'd like to say 'ARIGATO' to the Rocky Mountain High School Band and to the director, Mr. Casey Cropp.
(May/07/2005)
Yasuhide Ito
