Whale and Sea (score)

Commissioned by Gral Wind Orchestra and premiered at their 41st annual concert in June 2022.
As its name suggests, Whale and Sea - Symphonic poem is about Mother Sea and the largest creature on earth, the whale. There are about 80 species of whales today. Some species migrate thousands of kilometers each year from polar seas to warm waters near the equator, and here I tried to imagine traveling with them.
Opening scene is the Arctic Ocean. On dark indigo waters amongst the ice, dorsal and tail fins appear and disappear slightly, suggesting the presence of some undersea creature. After a moment of silence, a huge black mountain-like body, far beyond imagination, suddenly appears in front of the viewer in slow motion. A solo flute begins the story of the ancient history of whales and humans. An old-fashioned melody inspired by the legends of the northern lands is carried over to the soprano saxophone solo, which repeats and develops into the woodwind and brass.
Mid-song reaches the warm southern ocean, after a long journey. Here the whales welcome the birth of their offspring. As the ascending unison of the woodwinds peaks, brass join in, and everyone slowly descends. The image is of a hymn to celebrate the birth of new life, sung in a rousing voice against a majestic seascape glistening in the sun's rays. This part develops and returns in the latter half of the piece.
In the ending, previous motifs are interspersed in fragments, as if recalling the journey. It expresses the emotion and joy that wells up in this world where all living things are precious and beautiful, such as the blue sea, the shining sun, and the vibrant creatures. The song closes with a powerful and spectacular ""Song of Life"" in animated rhythm.

(Yuichi Abe)