Mae-e (Forward) • 前へ - Kentaro Sato (佐藤賢太郎)

Описание: Mae-e (Forward) • 前へ
Kentaro Sato (佐藤賢太郎)


Recorded in May 16, 2024 as part of PODIUM Festival (Montreal) - Christ Church Cathedral



Audio and Video by Brenden Friesen

Program note:

Dedicated to the victims of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami that devastated Japan on March 11th, 2011, Kentaro Sato’s Mae-e (“Forward” in English) was written for the Utao NIPPON Project. Though the natural disaster lasted a mere six minutes, the event colloquially known as the “Great East Japan Earthquake” resulted in over 18 000 casualties, including several thousand victims who were never recovered.

The word “bittersweet” perfectly encompasses the sentiment of this ballad, which begins by reminiscing on time spent with loved ones who are no longer with us and how reluctantly we leave such beautiful memories behind. As the piece unfolds, the past is reconciled with the reality of the present and the fortitude required to soldier on is mustered.

Throughout Mae-e, the phrase “Oboete-iru” can be heard cascading across the ensemble, sung by the four voice parts in a somewhat canonical style. This phrase translates to “I remember” and is meant as a heartfelt tribute to the lives lost as well as recognition of the grief sustained by the survivors. The piece’s concluding line, “Ippo ippo mae-e” means “One step at a time, I walk forward”, recognizing both the difficulty and the necessity of looking toward the future and the promise of tomorrow.

Composer and lyricist, Kentaro Sato, who wrote both the music and text of this piece, may be best known in the choral world as the winner of the prestigious ACDA Raymond W. Brock Memorial Composition Contest for “Kyrie” from Missa pro Pace (Mass for Peace), which premiered at the 2005 ACDA National Convention in Los Angeles. He is also a frequent guest conductor and lecturer for various choral workshops and reading sessions around the world.

Program notes by Babεl