Cultural exchanges between Europe and the Far East are not a recent phenomenon. For a long time there has been a mutual attraction between those two regions of the world. In many fields, such as painting, litterature, theatre or music, strong influences have contributed in shaping important aspects of artistic activity.
A fascinating example of a successful synthesis between cultures is given by the great Japanese composer Toru Takemitsu. Listening to his works, is to discover new fields of musical expression. A subtle alchemy between oriental sensitivity and western procedures of composition characterizes this art. It could evoque the splendid paintings of the great Chinese Zao Wu Ki, master of the "lyrical abstraction ". This "Homage to Takemitsu" was for me an occasion to deepen and clarify some of my musical intuitions. Following an opposite road, I used traditional structures of Western music trying to invigorate them with oriental sensibility, particularly in what concerns its relation to Nature. It is likely that my utopian study of Japanese language has contributed in opening some secret doors. In this context, the choice of the "Four Elements" as the subject for this composition was evident.
Of course, the matter was neither to imitate Takemitsu's very personal style, nor to describe those elements as an illustrator. Impressions or memories raised by the strong images of Earth, Water, Fire and Air contributed to shape up this music, but in great part unconsciously. The composition being completed, we can look at it, although it was not intentional, as an allegory of the Creation. This concerns particularly La Terre (Earth), the first piece and the most developed one. Earth can be seen as a substance, as a planet, or as a place where human beings are living. Place of struggle, of anguish, but front where a song can rise. A song accompanied by the babbling of Water, the sparkling, the clamour of Fire, and vanishing in the transparency of morning breeze.

Lionel Rogg