Commissioned by Nishimiya Junior High School Band, 2015.

Rituals can include incantations for various fortunes; a good harvest, a prayer for good-luck during a potential disaster and so on.

The theme here is "Prayer for Rain". It depicts an imaginary place where an aboriginal ritual with rhythmic and harmonic characteristics is practiced. It is not a spectacle, rather more conservative and traditional.

The melody consists of half-step and augmented intervals, creating a somewhat exotic line. Triple meter strengthens the rhythmic feel. Then it develops into forward moving syncopation. Near the end, two trumpets present a peaceful song of prayer. Then a full-sounding ensemble chorale resonates like a sunray piercing through the clouds.

(Yosuke Fukuda)