The beautifully lyrical work "Between Tides", of approximately 15 minutes duration, was composed by Takemitsu in 1993. The central dynamic motion of the piece is that of waves - brief, clearly ascending and/or descending melodic phrases and smaller gestures that intersect and overlap. The tonalities lie between Debussy and Edward "Duke" Ellington; the first violin phrases seem to be samples from the jazz standard "Misty", and the piano voicings and parallel ninth harmonies will be found in jazz from the 20's through the 40's. Takemitsu once expressed a desire to study with Ellington, and he often arranged and produced pop music for recordings and film scores, as well as privately making arrangements for big bands. As a whole, the piece has a large song structure and is modern music that would appeal to a listener who is used to melodically oriented work. The piece has many impressionistic and scene-painting elements like the occasional icy string harmonics and tremolos are classically evocative of the sea. There are also brief octave skipping gestures like sea gulls flying by, that are repeated throughout the composition. And the cresting and ebbing wave-like phrases flow ceaselessly.

© "Blue" Gene Tyranny, All Music Guide