HIBIKI
(2014)The Love Suicides at Sonezaki by Chikamatsu Monzaemon, trans.Geoffrey Bownas and Anthony Thwaite; Hashitte Iru by So Sakon, trans. Leith Morton; Kira Kira Hikaru, trans. Mutsuko Erskine (J-E)
4(III&IV=picc,afl).2.CorA.2.2bcl(II=dbcl).2ssax(II=asax)-4.4.4.1-timp.perc(4):glsp/crot(+bow)/cencerros/vib/marimba/h.bells/Japanese temple bells/t.bells/steel dr/tgl/sleigh bells/3wdbl/taiko dr/BD/brake dr/lg rin/sizzle cym/2susp.cym(med,lg)/lg ride cym/2tam-t(sm,lg)-harp-cel-pft-2mandolin-strings(16.14.12.10.8)
Abbreviations (PDF)
Boosey & Hawkes
"In the first movement, Turnage draws the audience in with jazzy, groovy rhythms, while in the second, creepy rumblings with creaking dissonances roar out at various times. The two soloists appear in his setting of poetry by Sakon Sou, with the duet harmonising in thirds and the word ‘running’ appearing many times, creating ominous undertones… The sixth movement uses texts from Monzaemon Chikamatsu’s The Love Suicides at Sonezaki and is a melancholic, beautiful movement in which you could sense the shadow of Mahler. In the finale the children’s chorus only sang the word ‘Fukushima’, spinning out meditation-like resonances…"
Performing Arts Journal, Tokyo