Thea Musgrave

Journey Through A Japanese Landscape

Concerto for Solo Marimba and Wind Orchestra. The four movements of Journey through a Japanese Landscape are based on a series of haiku which represents an emotional journey through the four seasons. The three haiku chosen for each of the seasons provide a setting and an event; thus, the gently undulating spring sea is the background for the free, improvisatory character of the skylark. The summer grasses have buried the glorious dreams of ancient warriors and after a violent storm, a distant memory of a march is heard. An autumnal fog envelops a colossal Buddha and a lonely watcher sounds one gong after another while a cricket acts as a grave keeper. Glass wind chimes introduce the frozen winter landscape. The march returns, then sleet and snow build to a big storm. Out of the silence that follows, echoes of the first movement suggest the return of spring and so, rebirth. (Grade 4) Duration: 23:00