Sheet Music – Duet – Voices by Yoko Kanno

I have always been a huge Yoko Kanno fan even before I knew who she was. I heard her music in most of my favorite Anime growing up that when I became a musician I knew I’d have to learn her tunes. the first piece of her music and quite likely the first anime tune that really caught me was this piece Voices. it was in the anime Macross Plus. As a side note I, along with friends, role played the Macross saga during the early 90’s.

Here is my transposition of a version I found online for two voices. In this case it’s set for a baritone to play the lead line and the bass to complete the harmonies. The song is haunting and somewhat melancholic. I recommend playing this piece with “molto espressivo” and try not to rush it. Also, breath marks are not written so good breath support are important. Also I recommend practice this with a metronome set to what ever tempo you prefer. Keeping good time makes the retard at the end more dramatic.

 

Download [Score Baritone Bass]

The version below is nice if not just a bit slow.

The lyrics are included below.

Original / Romaji LyricsEnglish Translation

Hitotsume no kotoba wa yume
nemuri no naka kara
mune no oku no kurayami wo sotto
tsuredasu no

The first word was “dream”
From the middle of sleep
Which secretly accompanies
The darkness in my heart
futatsume no kotoba wa kaze
yukute wo oshiete
kamisama no ude no naka e
tsubasa wo aoru no
The second word was “wind”
Directing my journey
From God’s arms,
Fanning wings
tokete itta kanashii koto wo
kazoeru you ni
kin’iro no ringo ga
mata hitotsu ochiru
As if counting
the melting sorrows,
Yet another golden
apple fell
mita koto mo nai fuukei
soko ga kaeru basho
tatta hitotsu no inochi ni
tadoritsuku basho
Not even looking at the scenery,
There is the place you’re going
With merely a single life,
You struggle to reach that place
furui mahou no hon
tsuki no shizuku yoru no tobari
itsuka aeru yokan dake
An old magic book;
moondrops; the curtain of night–
Only a premonition of meeting someday
we can fly
we have wings
we can touch floating dreams
call me from so far
through the wind
in the light
We can fly
We have wings
We can touch floating dreams
Call me from so far
Through the wind
In the light
mittsume no kotoba wa hum ..
mimi wo sumashitara
anata no furueru ude wo
sotto tokihanatsu
The third word was “hum”..
Caught by straining ears
As I softly release
Your trembling arms