Toward the Sea... for Wind Orchestra

Toward the Sea...for Wind Orchestra was awarded the 16th Asahi Composition Award in 2005 and was also chosen as one of the test pieces for the 2006 All Japan Band Contest. It was my first work for band.
Considering today's band situation I have re-edited the work to be widely adaptable as concert repertoire.
To adjust differences in writing style between then and now, I have slightly modified the handling of slurs and phrasing and the structure of internal voices. In addition, the solo part of each instrument has been enhanced with optional parts to best suit the performing ensemble.
In December 2004, a few months before the initial completion of this piece, Indonesia was hit by the Sumatra Earthquake. I was shocked to see the island severely damaged by the earthquake and the resulting tsunami. Raging seas engulfed the resorts of this southern paradise. The beautiful and calm southern sea that many of us long to see suddenly bared its fangs and mercilessly destroyed people's lives. It was an event that instantly reminded us that our culture, tradition, and life built up over generations can be buried in an instant by the power of nature. At the time, we had no idea that six years later, the same sea would hit our country and cause even greater damage...
Even so, this work depicts the beautiful seascapes that I long for: waves breaking against the rocks, calm seas, and sunrises on the horizon, as I felt them at the time.

(Kei Misawa)