I. Nostalgia II. Harbor
This was inspired by my visit to Glover Garden in Nagasaki, Japan.The first movement depicts nostalgic feelings from the Glover House.Thomas Blake Glover was a Scottish merchant who built his home on Minami-Yamate hill in 1863. The famous young patriot Ryoma Sakamoto who aspired to overthrow the Edo-period Shogunate and sought to study about the West is said to have had stayed there. This surviving and unchanged historic place and Glover's mementoes reflect the atmosphere of the people who lived during one of the most significant and turbulent eras of Japan. Although Glover passed away in Japan, I can imagine him standing on the hilltop looking at the magnificent ocean view with sentimental feelings.The second movement depicts the prosperity of Nagasaki Port during the time of national isolation.The garden of Glover's house overlooks the Nagasaki Port. During the Edo era, a national isolation policy existed and trade was put under the management of the Shogunate. The Nagasaki Port continued to prosper as the only gateway to the world during this period. The town of Nagasaki was brimming with enthusiasm from those dreaming of a new dawn for Japan.
(Yuichi Abe)
