DAWN PINK (AURORA BOREALIS) (world premiere)
Toshiro Saruya, 1999

for violin - Steve Tada, viola - Julia Bastuscheck, french horn - Bill Paulick, euphonium - Nathan Bastuscheck, flute - Sally Schlichting, oboe - Jan Coldwell

When I heard that this piece would be premiered in Alaska, I remembered that on my childhood globe of the world, Alaska was colored pink, but I did not know why.

Later I found out that the color was called "dawn pink" which suggested to me the goddess of dawn named Aurora in Roman mythology. In Japanese (as in English), we use the word "aurora" for the Northern Lights.

When particles enter the atmosphere along the lines of the earth's magnetic field, they radiate light across the whole spectrum, as if they admire the grandeur of Aurora. I hope this piece conveys something of this mystical idea, and that the spectrum of the musical sounds expresses my longing for Aurora and appreciation for the natural beauty of Alaska.