Tomoko was born in Tokyo long before that city’s Disneyland Sea, which features the mermaid Ariel. Mermaids have inspired piano composers for centuries because of their mythical and ethereal nature. These compositions often feature Impressionistic, flowing piano, or orchestral techniques to evoke the sea's mystery. Here are a few examples.
- Franz
Joseph Haydn composed "The Mermaid's Song" (1794) as
part of his 12 English Canzonettas. It features a shimmering
piano prelude meant to evoke the movement of water.
- Enrique
Granados wrote a piano piece titled "La Sirena" during
his early career (c. 1884–1895) as he developed his distinct Spanish
romantic style.
- William
Gillock included a piece titled "Song of the Mermaid" in
his 24 Preludes in Romantic Style, a popular educational
collection for solo piano.
- Claude
Debussy’s movement "Sirènes" from Nocturnes is
a cornerstone of mermaid-inspired music. His piano prelude "La
Cathédrale Engloutie" (The Sunken Cathedral) also evokes a
similar mystical underwater atmosphere.
The mermaid motif continues today in piano compositions.
- Alan
Menken, known for his music for Disney’s The Little Mermaid, has
been extensively arranged for classical piano solo and duet, notably
by Phillip Keveren.
- Alla
Pavlova composed "The Mermaid" as part of her Six
Piano Impressions After Fairy Tales by H.C. Andersen (2015).
- Vladimir
Titov wrote "Mermaid" Op. 8 No. 2, which features a
mirrored hand technique on the piano.
Tomoko is no mermaid, but over the years she has certainly
made a splash with her piano performances and teaching.
