Commissioned by Sound and Music and Sainsbury Centre for Visual Arts, as part of Soundescapes / 1 minute of Listening

Inspired by Leiko Ikemura’s Usagi Kannon, this one-minute piece serves as a prayer for healing and resilience through times of hardship, reflecting on natural disasters such as the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami—mirrored in Ikemura’s sculpture—and the 2024 Noto Earthquake. Ikemura’s Usagi Kannon is a half-human, half-rabbit form, embodying the transformative essence of the Japanese goddess of compassion, Kannon (観音). The name 観音 means ‘to see through sound’.

In this piece, this is conveyed through the voice, violin and cello, each navigating the timbres of both traditions. The main motif is inspired by the melismatic line of Shomyo, the Japanese Buddhist chant. While Shomyo has been traditionally sung by men, here it resonates through a young woman’s voice, invoking an awakening of inner resilience that steadily grows stronger. The navigating parts gradually build up to a striking of bell - incorporated here is a field recording of ‘The Bell of Time’ at Sensoji Temple, which was built to house Kannon. Since the 17th century, this bell has marked the beginning of each day with a traditional strike at 6 a.m. Beyond its role in daily rituals, the bell serves as a powerful symbol of resilience, having withstood wartime bombings.

As the bell resonates, all elements unite, with spirits weaving between light and shadow through the small holes of Usagi Kannon’s bell skirt. Finally, they settle into a tranquil stillness.