Romance

“Romance” is a piano work composed in 1948. The composer Takemitsu joined the “New Composers’ Association” in 1950, and announced “Lent in Two Movements” at their presentation for the first time. His debut received criticism by Ginji Yamane, who stated this work is not music. “Romance” was a etude when he studied composition for the first time in his life, just two years before his debut. The revised version of this work in 1949 was dedicated to his only teacher, Yasuji Kiyose. After the death of Takemitsu, the revision score of this work by British pianist composer, Paul Crossley, was published by Schott Music Corporation.

At the beginning of the score, it is written that ‘Adagio sostenuto, nobile e funebre (slowly, keeping the sound sufficiently, sad with elegance)’. The resonance of sounds piles up little by little. Then, ancient Japanese scales appear. Ethnic atmosphere, which is not found in Takemitsu’s later works, fills in the whole song. The melancholic melody appearing in the middle part is repeated several times without being organically developed, and it is played in explosive Fortissimo around the end of this piece. Finally, the beginning sound returns for a moment, and the song finishes.