"Hiyoku no Tori" (Bird without wings) is a mythical pair of male and female birds, each with one eye and one wing that must fly in tandem.

This work strongly utilizes polytonality and compound chords, and the title symbolizes the complete characteristic of the birds. It portraits the pair taking off with varied wing movements that eventually synchronize while the divergent harmony of two groups ultimately merges into a singular tonality.

There is a forward drive not dependent upon typical harmony; frequent modulation follows the melodic line. The flight technique differentiates it from any other creature of normal mechanics.

Though the birds are rarely referenced in publication or story, researching the origin of this unique duality should prove enlightening and add to performance potential.

(Tadahisa Nakamura)