天頂の恋 Lovers on the Celestial Sphere (2005) by 長生 淳 Jun Nagao Spectrum Duo Calvin Wong - Soprano saxophone Dennis Kwok - Tenor saxophone HKISS 2013 Student Recital Lovers on the Celestial Sphere (天頂の恋) was composed on commission of Nobuya Sugawa, and was first performed by Nobuya Sugawa (Soprano Saxophone), Sadahito Kunisue (Tenor Saxophone) and Minako Koyanagi (Piano) on 26 October 2005 at Muse Hall, Takamatsu. It is a romantic trio music for soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone and piano, based on the traditional Japanese/Chinese old star romantic story called Tanabata (Qixi Festival), meaning "Evening of the seventh." Orihime (Weaving Princess) and Hikoboshi (Cow Herder), represented by the stars Vega and Altair respectively, are lovers but separated by the Milky Way. They are only allowed to meet once a year according to the legend, which is July 7 of the Lunisolar calendar. Weaving Princess is the daughter of the Sky King, also known as the universe itself. She was responsible for weaving all the beautiful clothes for everyone in Paradise. However, she worked too hard that she was lonely and never fell in love with anyone. Hence, the Sky King arranged for her to meet Cow Herder, who took care of the cows in Paradise. They fell in love at the first sight, and live happily, until one day Sky King found out that, she never wove again, and all the cows were gone too. He was so angry, and separated them. So they are allowed to meet only once a year on the seventh of July forever. It was believed that it is the reason why couple days around the July 7 was rainy because the lovers are crying; some believe that whenever it rains, they could not meet, and has to wait for another year. There are many tempo changes in Lovers. It is in 6/8 and marked Con espressione with dotted quarter equals 52. The piano starts with a dancing style solo, maybe like a contemporary ballade or any slow and elegant dances. Then soprano saxophone and tenor saxophone solo respectively. There were many conversational texture. Sometimes they play unison, sometimes the rhythm is syncopated, sometimes one is echoing the other, sometimes they play an interval of 3rd or 6th apart. This is a very traditional composition techniques from Italian opera and piano trio from the romantic period. After the 6/8 section, the two saxophones play a duet cadanza. There are many flexibilities as most cadanza do, but it becomes very tricky for a duet. The cadanza ends with a sustaining tone, and then piano picks up from there. The meter switches to 4/4, and each instrument get a solo section, and accelerate into Andantino, quarter note equals 72. The music come back and forth between Andantino and Allegro, where 3 instruments exchange intense 16th notes line and syncopation. The music reaches the climax at Grandioso, where is the most romantic section too, because the piano has 4-against-6 rhythms, accompanying the unison duet a 3rd apart, with the greatest dynamics marking in the music. The music calm down a little, and the first theme from the beginning comes back. It is like recalling a the good memories from the past, the time that the prince and herder could spent their time together. This one of the significant composition techniques from romantic period, called idée fixe. It is used when the music has a program or story, so when a certain theme comes back, it means the character, or a scene from the story comes back. At the end of Lovers, it ends quietly and peaceful, with a little bit regret and pessimism, because the lovers will be separated again, and have to wait for an another year.

• published: 16 Aug 2013
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