Yasukazu Amemiya - Monochrome Sea

Monochrome Sea, for solo percussionist & tape (1976) Monochrome Sea is also accompanied by a poem by Amemiya himself. The piece is a fantasy depicting the quiet drama played out in the depths of the sea. Rapid movements are suppressed to the greatest degree and an attempt is made to create a monochrome but rich sound surface. A linear structure is evident in this piece which features the use of intervals based on the pitch C, especially C-E, C-F, C-G, C-A flat, virtuoso performance on the marimba and timpani, continuous sounds produced by rubbing a vibraphone with a bow, and a tape which sounds as if it has been electronically produced. Although there are sometimes passages of great excitement, the drama of the sea bottom is controlled by images of stillness and depth. This play of tonal colors, rich in reverberations and overtones, never denying emotional release, occurs as a rejoicing in the bond between man and nature. It is a humanistic world which continues to be expressed, this being brought into relief and emphasized especially by the romantic singing of the marimba. [RVC-2154] "Monochrome Sea" drops of light fallen on the surface of the water ignorant of their final destination as dwellers in the sea momentary meetings recur and recur with the living and the non-living aiming further and further into the depths their long vertical beams end in total stillness on the rocky seabed like the gentle rocking of a cradle only the water's gentle flow permeates the skin, induces sleep everything loses its color spreads out over the surface arabesques in an ink sketch drawn by the black seaweed sudden transformation a crystal translucent mass of cold water the battle of the waters coming into contact woven on the projecting screen of the seabed the ink sketch twisting and turning in the depths --Yasukazu Amemiya Art by John Virtue