This work, commissioned by the Tokyo Ryusei Wind Orchestra for their 2024 season, reflects my enduring fascination with the sea - a theme I explored in my very first composition for wind orchestra, [To the Sea] for Wind Orchestra" (All Japan Band Competition Test Piece IV, 2006). At that time, I attempted to sketch various expressions of the sea through dynamic rhythmic elements, intense phrases, and subtle fluctuations in tempo. The surging waves striking the rocks with fury, the gentle ripples lapping at sandy shores-these were among the images I sought to capture.
In December 2004, shortly before this earlier piece debuted, a massive earthquake struck off the coast of Sumatra, Indonesia, triggering a devastating tsunami that obliterated countless lives, communities, and cultural histories. Through news reports, we witnessed the horrific transformation of tranquil coastal seas by destructive forces of nature. The terrifying power of the ocean unfolded before our eyes - a forewarning, perhaps, of the tragedy that would later strike Japan`s own shores six years later.
Despite this, the serene beauty of the sea continues to hold an allure for me, inspiring me once again to sketch its imagery in music. The ebb and flow of waves - the drawing back that precedes each surge - became a central metaphor. Depending on the timing and magnitude of the receding motion, we anticipate the strength of the next wave and brace ourselves. When the wave finally arrives, it culminates in a moment of tension, much like the peak of a musical phrase, releasing energy before preparing for the next surge. I conveyed this ever-changing rhythm of the waves through uneven tempo variations, density of notes, and dynamic intensity.
In addition to the waves, the piece sketches scenes such as a ship navigating a sudden storm, migratory birds frolicking on a calm sea, and the grandeur of a sunset sinking below the horizon. Inspired by Claude Debussy - renowned for works like his symphonic poem La Mer - I incorporated whole-tone scales and augmented triads, which are characteristic of his music, into this composition. The title was finalized with ideas contributed by Takao Hatakeda, the music director of the Tokyo Ryusei Wind Orchestra, to whom I am deeply grateful.
On January 1, 2024, while I was composing this piece, the sea once again revealed its fearsome side. The Noto Peninsula Earthquake, accompanied by a tsunami, devastated the region. I extend my heartfelt condolences to those who lost their lives and sympathies to those affected by the disaster.
Today, the shared global issue of environmental change grows more urgent each year, manifesting in rising sea levels, climate-related disasters, and increasingly extreme weather. It is my fervent hope that the sea-long a source of inspiration and wonder - remains a beautiful and aspirational entity for future generations. Should I compose another work centered on the sea someday, I wish it to resonate with this same sense of admiration and reverence.
Finally, I would like to express my gratitude to the Tokyo Ryusei Wind Orchestra for premiering this work with such skill and dedication. I am also indebted to music director Takao Hatakeda, whose deep understanding, heartfelt engagement, and musical insights were invaluable throughout the process.
(Kei Misawa)
