Commissioned by La CAMERATA SONORA, a brass ensemble based in Ishinomaki City, Miyagi. This piece was completed in the fall of 2013 and premiered in December of the same year. The San Juan Bautista, is a galleon built by Date Masamune, who was granted diplomatic rights by Ieyasu Tokugawa, to dispatch a Keicho-era Mission to Europe led by Hasekura Tsunenaga, a clansman in Sendai. The ship's name means "St. John the Baptist". The ship departed from Ishinomaki City, Miyagi Prefecture in 1613 and crossed the Pacific Ocean several times, visiting Mexico, Spain and Rome. In 1993, it was restored and now is exhibited at Miyagi Sant Juan Bautista Museum in Ishinomaki City.
At the premiere, after meas. 120 the euphonium switched to trombone. If trombone is available, it will improve the performance.
(Itaru Sakai)
As an opportunity to move forward after the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, we requested a piece to be an inspiration. We hope that you will feel the essence of Ishinomaki City in Miyagi and San Juan Bautista, and we wish for many wonderful performances. Bon Voyage!
(Iori Iwasaki, La CAMERATA SONORA)
