Toru TAKEMITSU (1930 - 1996)
I hear the water dreaming (1987)** [10.50]
Toward the sea I (1981)* [11.11]
Le fils des étoiles (1975)* [ 4.15]
Toward the sea II (1981)** [11.08]
And then I knew 'twas wind (1992)* [13.10]
Toward the sea III (1989)* [10.56]
Air (1995)* [ 5.36]
Patrick Gallois (flute)
Göran Söllscher (guitar) Fabrice Pierre (harp)
Pierre Henri Xuereb (viola) BBC Symphony Orchestra Andrew
Davis.(conductor)
Recording. The Warehouse, London. 9 / 96 * London, Abbey Road Studios. Studio
One. ** DDD
DG 453 459-2
[67.06]
Crotchet
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Seven works with a shared theme - that of the sea and water - make up this
disc of music by Toru Takemitsu. Concern - one might say obsession - for
the environment dominated much of Takemitsu's life and this release shows
how much of an influence the world about him was on his artistic thinking
and composition. The title work of the compilation "I hear the water dreaming"
was prompted by an Australian aboriginal painting, and the sources of two
of the other titles can be traced to, firstly, Herman Melville and his creation
the gigantic white whale Moby Dick (Toward the Sea), while "And
then I knew 'twas wind" is a line from Emily Dickinson. When one
realises that also in the selection is an arrangement of a piece by Eric
Satie some of the universality of this enormously gifted and most cosmopolitan
of men can be realised. The other dominant theme throughout the programme
is another of Takemitsu's preoccupations - dreaming.
Takemitsu was a Francophile and whether his love of French music led him
to this or followed from it is not clear. Debussy and Messiaen were particular
favourites and he felt a particular affinity with the flute, an instrument
used so much by French composers, and one that is in some form or other used
in so many societies worldwide and is common to his own native Japanese culture
as well as to western music.
A flautist much associated with his music is Patrick Gallois whose contacts
with Takemitsu prompted him to switch from the standard western instrument
to the wooden flute based upon the shakuhachi, the flute of traditional Japanese
music that he believed offered more in its "richness of colours, beauty of
sonority and subtlety of language" - Gallois' own words. He clearly is completely
at ease with the music on this CD.
Toward the Sea, was originally written in 1981 to support the "Save
the Whales" campaign. No I for alto flute and guitar is mainly in free time
but with detailed tempo instructions. The flute employs effects such as
flutter-tonguing and the guitar is heard mostly with chords and arpeggio
figurations. No II came later from the same year for harp, alto flute and
string orchestra and the second variation - No III - from 1989 was written
for flute and harp. Le Fils des Étoiles is a brief arrangement
for flute and harp of a Satie piano prelude that flows freely without bar
lines.
And then I knew 'twas wind written with minutely detailed instructions
for flute viola and harp dates from 1992 and his explanation of the work
by the composer includes "has as its subject the signs of the wind in the
natural world and of the soul, or unconscious mind (or we could even call
it 'dream'), which continues to blow, like the wind invisibly, through human
consciousness". The short Air, for solo flute was intended to be for
a projected work for flute, harpsichord and orchestra that was not finished
before the composer's death.
The notes with the disc are detailed and contain a number of quotations from
Takemitsu. Some may find them a touch pretentious but they may help to explain
his philosophy and motivation. The recording - beautifully clear and balanced
- and some excellent playing, matches the music that in turn appears to capture
the composers intentions of encapsulating dream-like effects in his writing.
Generally slow music, almost stately at times, colour on a small scale from
a grouping of intimate instruments - undoubtedly dreamlike.
Reviewer.
Harry Downey
See also review by Ian Lace
