Score
I. Dawn - sunrise between the islands
II. The Archipelago and Waves - waves crash as the point of view ascends from them up to the sky
III. Voyage - riding the crest of the waves
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet 1 (div.)
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bb Bass Clarinet
Eb Alto Saxophone 1
Eb Alto Saxophone 2
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
Flugelhorn 1/2 (doubling Bb Trumpet)
F Horn 1/2
F Horn 3/4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium (div.)
Tuba (div.)
String Bass
Timpani
[Percussion 1] Wind Chime, Suspended Cymbal, Bass Drum
[Percussion 2] Triangle, Bass Drum, 3 Toms, Wind Chime, Bongo, Tam-tam
[Percussion 3] Tublar bells, Tamtam, Suspended Cymbal, Crash Cymbal
[Percussion 4] Vibraphone, Triangle, Marimba,Tamtam, Glockenspiel
[Percussion 5] Glockenspiel, Snare Drum, Wind Chime
"Three Spectacles for Navy Blue" was commissioned by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Band/Sasebo for their 50th anniversary and premiered by them on 22nd February, 2003, Lt. Cdr. Hiroyuki Kumazaki conducting.
Sasebo is a historically significant seaport, blessed by natural design. Before composing this work, I visited Sasebo and was impressed with the marvelous view of the archipelago called "99 Islands", where literally 99 islands spread across the Sasebo Sea. I was stirred by the area's natural greatness. Throughout Sasebo's tumultuous geologic history, the archipelago was slowly formed.
2003 was also the 100th anniversary of Sasebo city, so I have constructed a homage of hope from the past to the future in Sasebo, praising the power of nature. This song is based upon pitch names "S[Es, or Eb]-A-S-E-B". Considering the band's 50th and the city's 100th anniversaries, the 5th degree and 10th degree appear frequently.
(Eiji Suzuki)
