Watta Umi (Our Sea)

Composer:

Kikuko Maruo

Words from composer

This work was born from my encounter with the Okinawa NAGO Junior Choir from Japan at the Karuizawa International Choral Festival held in the summer of 2023. The moment the members of the Okinawa NAGO Junior Choir sat on the stage floor and began to sing, I felt as if the sea of Okinawa—a place I had never visited—was spreading out rapidly before my eyes. For the text of this work, I asked the children to choose their favorite words, which I then wove together into lyrics. I learned the intonation of Okinawan words over the phone and completed the piece rapidly. I deliberately omitted dynamic markings and kept tempo indications to a minimum, allowing each choir to enjoy performing this piece with their own interpretation. I hope that “Watta Umi” (Our Sea), sent forth by the children of Nago City, Okinawa, will help people in different regions share their love for nature through music. The work was premiered at the Okinawa NAGO Junior Choir Annual Concert in March 2024.