Description
Ryohei Hirose (1930-2008)
Arranged by Ann Cameron Pearce
These three ocean related tone paintings, composed from 1977 to 1979, were originally written for SATB choir plus piano and arranged for flute choir by permission of the composer.
There Was No Ocean
Sonorous lower flutes sing from ocean depths as they anchor a luscious and expansive flute choir sound. Pensive melodies sing their yearnings as they pass a musical question between all octaves of the instruments.
The Tufted puffin
Puffins do what puffins do best: they flap, hop, and puff at a lively tempo, scampering about the ice. Driving rhythms support their frolic of lightly bouncing phrases.
Lullaby of the Ocean
Lush Japanese five-tone folk tunes move spaciously, depicting a gently rolling sea that beckons the listener to float off to peaceful dreamland.