Stuart Elliott

ara-umi ya / sado ni yokotau /amanogawa
The stormy sea!
Stretching out over Sado,
Heaven's River

The above Haiku by Matsuo Bashō and the woodblock print Priest Nichiren in Exile on SadoIsland by Utagawa Kuniyoshiwere the initial inspirations for my composition Heaven’s River. I was intrigued by the methodical form of the Haiku, which I transposed into the work. Overall you can find both structural components and imagery in the score.