Three Ariosos (Composed in 2011)

After the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011, I slowly and intermittently wove together the "Three Ariosos" while contemplating what a composer could possibly do, always composing with melody in mind. (Arioso is a musical term also used to mean 'in a singing style.') The first piece symbolically expresses a surging emotion akin to anger towards the heavy reality immediately after the disaster. The second piece depicts the impression of seeing cherry blossoms after the disaster. The third piece is a prayer for a light of hope. Its premiere in November of that year by Kaoru Jitsukawa garnered much empathy.