Ai Zome
| Date Composed: | 2009 |
| Composer: | Aki Takahashi |
| Arrangement: | Aki Takahashi |
| Premiere Performance: | November 27, 2009 – Al Green Theatre, Toronto |
From simple daily labor, songs were born. These days music has been reduced to a sound we hear passively during our spare time, but it used to be songs we created for ourselves. Thousands of work songs passed down for generations in Japan can still be heard in traditional ballads, folk songs, even in ceremonial music. The actual labor which gave birth to the songs may be long gone, but the melodies still live among us. Those melodies reflect the strength and resilience of the workers.
“Ai” is the beautiful colour of Japanese indigo. Nature gave us this colour, but to achieve the richness and clarity found in indigo requires patience and hard work. This song reflects the art and dedication which underlies such skilled craftsmanship.