• This title was commissioned by the Johan Franco Composition Fund of The Guild of Carillonneurs in North America.

Inner Voices reflects on the quiet but persistent discomfort that arises when what we once believed to be "normal" or "right" reveals itself to be otherwise. Such realizations are not limited to moments of cultural shock; they occur repeatedly throughout life. The subtle misalignments between expectations and reality create a sense of unease that we often try to address by seeking certainty or a single "correct" answer.

Yet this discomfort is not an external force imposed upon us. The pressure we feel often comes from within—from the rigid frameworks we unknowingly construct for ourselves. In trying to preserve stability, we confine ourselves to narrow definitions of correctness, making it harder to perceive reality as it is.

This work portrays the tension between awareness and retreat: recognizing inner dissonance, yet returning to familiar habits because they feel safe and comforting. At times, the music reaches toward something transcendent, as if seeking spiritual relief or clarity. Moments of calm emerge, but the underlying misalignment never fully disappears.

To maintain a stable daily life, we may choose not to see what unsettles us. However, avoidance carries its own cost. The piece suggests that balance is found not in denial or emotional reaction, but in the continual act of reflection—observing events as they are and listening carefully to the inner voices that question them.

—Naoko Tsujita