Commissioned by the Saitama Sakae High School Wind Orchestra, this piece began in 2004 as "a percussion ensemble that sings a beautiful melody with deep expression."
The instrumentation calls for a relatively large ensemble of octet, centered on keyboard percussion. Moderately advanced technique is required, particularly for the keyboard parts.
The main theme of the piece, the "Romance" melody, appears throughout. In the first half, it emerges intensely in instruments such as marimba, vibraphone, and chimes in an "unresolved state." In the latter half, it returns in a "clearly resolved form," expressed in a sweet and bittersweet manner.
Throughout the piece, I believe it is important to focus on how the melody is expressed, so choice of mallets is a key factor. Additionally, this work was originally written for piano, so playing it on piano might more clearly convey its musical image.

(Koh Shishikura)