très lointain

French composer

Definition

Very distant. A marking Takemitsu uses to indicate extreme pianissimo with an ethereal, far-away quality — not merely soft but receding, as if heard from another room or across water.

Interpretive Guidance

Aim for a sound that seems to come from outside the instrument, without articulation or attack. Use the softest possible touch and allow the sustain pedal to blur the edges.

Context

Scope Used by Toru Takemitsu
Language French

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