Written for Black Dyke's tour of Japan in 1990. Meiso ( which means contemplation) takes the unusual form of a duet for Eb. Horn and Bb. Baritone. The opening is based on two ideas : the upper brass depict the bells of the Shinto temple calling followers to gather for "meiso", and the lower brass play out a Shinto chant which was introduced to Peter Graham by a Japanese friend, Masaru Kawasaki. This work calls for long intertwined melodic lines from the soloists, covering the full instrumental range, while the band responds with soft, sustained and sympathetic playing throughout.
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