Variations 変奏曲 日本語の翻訳は、英文の下にあります。 Last year was a relatively quiet year on the composition front. After completing Sinfonia Concertante in 2023, I switched my writing energies to a book project: Music as Heritage and Tourism Resource in Japan (scheduled for publication in 2026). Writing this book has required deep reflection on...

On Stage 出演 日本語の翻訳は、英文の下にあります。 In my 28 January blog, I wrote, “My main ambition for 2024, however, is to write a piece that I can perform in a concert, and to face the audience as a composer-performer for the first time since 1993.” On 14 December we had a Christmas...

Chuya 中也 日本語の翻訳は、英文の下にあります。 I heard the name Nakahara Chuya for the first time in 2021. One of the classes I teach at Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (TUFS) is team-taught with a department colleague, Professor Arakawa Yohey. There are a few such classes in our department, and the idea is...

Rebirth 復活 日本語の翻訳は、英文の下にあります。 The highlights of last year were the release of Irodrio’s CD Trio Concertante, the CD launch concert, my appearance at the Composer Workshop during the Chofu International Music Festival, and the first performance of Berceuse. I have talked about all these events in blog posts. However, away...

Workshop ワークショップ 日本語の翻訳は、英文の下にあります。 On 24 June 2023, my “sketch” Shigeru’s War was performed at the Workshop “Creating New Music” Vol. 2 during the Chofu International Music Festival (CIMF). Three composers were selected to compose an original piece for the event via an open audition held in February and March. We...

Decisions 決断 日本語の翻訳は、英文と動画の下にあります。 A year ago, in March 2022, I went to hear a concert at Tazukuri Hall in Chofu. It was given by Irodrio, a piano trio whose members met at Toho Gakuen University, Japan’s top private music college (also in Chofu). Listening to them play, I felt strongly...

Year’s End 年末 日本語の翻訳は、英文と動画の下にあります。 The end of the calendar year is always a special time for music. Christmas music is a genre of its own, of course. In Japan there are various pieces and musical events associated with New Year, too. Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony is an end-of-year institution, along with...