Spring, Blossoming Plum Trees [Alto Saxophone & Piano]

This work was commissioned by Mr. Hiroshi Umezawa and premiered at the Hiroshi Umezawa Saxophone Recital on March 14, 2015. The composer has a strong interest not only in music but also in art, and last year he visited "The Birth of Impressionism: The Freedom to Paint" exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay (The National Art Center, Tokyo, July–October 2014). It was there that he encountered Camille Pissarro's "Spring, Plum Trees in Blossom" (1877, Musée d'Orsay). This painting depicts plum trees standing majestically at the foot of a hill. The title of this musical work was inspired by that artwork. Furthermore, for this new commission, I was given the theme of "an image moving from winter to spring, a melodic work." Therefore, I incorporated into the piece the winter scenery and poignancy seen by the plum trees, the changes and wavering emotions from winter to spring, the premonition of spring and light, and the song of joy for a new spring. (Yuto Yamada)