At Risshakuji

Composer: Kikuko Maruo

Composer’s note:

This piece is a revised arrangement of a female voice version of what was originally a mixed voice version for the Haguro High School Choir in Tsuruoka City, Yamagata Prefecture, and was premiered at the 11th Fukushima Vocal Ensemble Competition held at the Fukushima City Music Hall in 2018. It was composed in the hope of creating a transparent, soft and gentle ‘sound space’ using Matsuo Basho’s haiku ‘Shizukesaya, iwa ni shimiiru, semi no koe’ as text. I would be happy if the choir could enjoy doing the part described in sentences at the beginning of the piece in various ways. The “Yamadera” temple where the snow is falling, the spring when the buds are budding and the living creatures start to move around with joy, the summer when the soft rain falls and the cicadas chirp. 

I wish that nature and peace on earth like these will be forever preserved.

The divisi is not so much, so it is suitable for small ensembles.