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The 17 short pieces that make up "Turning Towards the Sea" are all based on the traditional Japanese poetry form known as Haiku. In a haiku poem, there are generally 17 syllables that are divided into three lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables. (In English language haiku, however, the number of syllables is typically less strict--especially for translations.) The aesthetic of haiku poetry is closely aligned with Zen Buddhist philosophy; one of many ways in which this is perceptible is that a haiku poem expresses the experience of a single moment in time, often called "the haiku moment”. A haiku poem usually implies a specific season as well. The three Basho poems I have woven into the piece (although the words are not intended to be distinguishable in performance) represent a specific season of life. Each “haiku” for trombone is made up of approximately 17 events, grouped loosely in three phrases of 5, 7, and 5. In turn, these “haiku” gather themselves into three larger phrases of 5, 7, and 5 to form the piece. Turning Towards the Sea was commissioned by trombonist Ben Lanz. [A note for those interested in numbers: The life cycle of most cicadas is 17 years.]
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