Printed set (Score & Parts)
[Part 1] Flute, Oboe, Eb Alto Saxophone, Bb Clarinet, Bb Soprano Saxophone, Bb Trumpet
[Part 2] Flute, Oboe, Bb Clarinet, Bb Trumpet, Eb Alto Saxophone
[Part 3] Bb Clarinet, Bb Trumpet, Eb Alto Saxophone, F Horn
[Part 4] Bb Clarinet, Bb Tenor Saxophone, Eb Alto Saxophone, F Horn, Trombone
[Part 5] Bb Clarinet, Bb Tenor Saxophone, F Horn, Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon
[Part 6] Bb Tenor Saxophone, Bb Bass Clarinet, Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon
[Part 7] Bb Tenor Saxophone, Bb Bass Clarinet, Eb Baritone Saxophone,Trombone, Euphonium, Bassoon
[Part 8] Bb Bass Clarinet, Eb Baritone Saxophone, Bassoon, Bass Trombone, Tuba, String Bass
[Percussion 1] Hi-hat Cymbal, Suspended Cymbal, Triangle, Wind Chime
[Percussion 2] Glockenspiel, Vibraphone
This piece was based on a school in Uozu, Toyama Prefecture, which was regrettably closed around 20 years ago.
The school was built on top of a hill in a small forest, where many students once studied and spent special moments of their youth. However, due to a declining birth rate and other factors, the decision was made to close the school. That was a great shock to the current students, alumni, related parties, and the local community.
How did each of them feel about the closure of the school filled with memories? As one of the teachers at the school, I have deep distress and a sense of helplessness and sadness that I cannot control. However, many memories of time spent there will soften with the passage of time and live on in the hearts of the students, though the school is no longer there.
The song title means "a school in forest" as the school was on top of a hill in a small forest. The building was later used as a group center, "Shinkawa Manabi-no-Mori Tenjinyama Koryukan," which contributes widely to cultural activities in the local community. In recent years, schools have been closing and consolidating due to our declining birthrate, and there will be many cases of similar experiences throughout Japan. The song expresses our wish that even in such times, people will keep their precious memories in a corner of their hearts and walk strongly in their lives.
This is composed in 2023 by commission of the Jade Brass Ensemble in Shinkawa, Toyama Prefecture, and then revised into a flexible ensemble by the composer.
(Hayato Hirose)
