Although the title includes the word ?gSorrowful Song?h (meaning an elegy or a poem mourning the dead), there is no particular personal loss or tragedy associated with this composition. Rather, after searching for words that would best suit the completed work, I ultimately arrived at this title.

The piece is structured in two sections, divided at rehearsal mark E. In both the first and second halves, prayer-like, serene melodies, chorales, and music of crying intertwine, creating a work rich in various expressions and emotions.

Performance Note:
From the third beat of measure 134 at rehearsal mark R through measure 137, the 1st and 3rd horns are written in an extremely high register. If these parts prove too difficult, they may be substituted with the 2nd and 4th horn parts. Regardless of the octave chosen, I hope the performers will express an intense and agonized cry with a sense of desperate urgency.

(Ryuga Yamada)