“Based on the melody of “Mienai Kodomo” by Toru Takemitsu, “Unseen Child” is a serene percussion quintet scored for three-octave glockenspiel, three-octave songbells, vibraphone, five-octave marimba, and six suspended cymbals. Bob Becker has rhythmically altered Takemitsu’s original melody to create a contemplative work that shimmers like a mountain lake. The glock, song bells, vibraphone and suspended cymbals create a crystalline texture that blends well with the long, sustained chords played on marimba. The score indicates an andante tempo, and although written in 7/4, the five-minute piece feels tranquil from beginning to end. Almost all of the notes are sustained chords and should be allowed to ring. Becker indicates that the piece is based on a system of four non-transferable nine-tone scales that he has been using as the basis for some of his compositions. These scales give the piece a timeless, exotic sound that creates the atmosphere of a Zen garden.”

—Terry O’Mahoney, Percussive Notes, October 1995