This piece was commissioned in 2023 by Takarazuka Wind Orchestra under the musical direction of Mr. Hideyuki Watanabe.
This work is the third in my series of compositions bearing the word “Prayer” in the title, following “Hands of Prayer” and “Sun Salutation”. Like the previous two works, it is built upon the thematic contrast of “darkness to light.”

In this piece, I placed particular emphasis on melody as the central element of the composition, cherishing the energy that music can generate through expressive nuance. The way the melody gradually shapes the music and weaves resonance over time is reflected in the word “rays,” which inspired the title.

It is said that each key has its own inherent sense of color. Most of this piece is based in C major, which, to me, evokes a feeling of white or transparency. I envisioned a sound that opens out into a clear, expansive sky. With that in mind, I composed this work imagining the music expanding ever outward—melodies intertwined with transparent harmonies—reaching toward the sky beyond.

(Shuhei Tamura)