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Zen-On Releases Three New Publications by Miyuko Oda, Shoichi Yabuta, and Norio Fukushi

Jun. 23, 2023

On June 15, Zen-On released three new publications by Miyuko Oda, Shoichi Yabuta, and Norio Fukushi. 

Miyuko Oda's A Journey to Rebirth Memories of Dewa Mountains was commissioned by the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra in celebration of their 50th Anniversary. The Symphony premiered the work on October 22-23, 2022 at Yamagata Terrsa Hall, conducted by Keitaro Harada. The composer notes:

"Provided with an opportunity to work with the Yamagata Symphony Orchestra, I visited the Dewa Sanzan mountains and put the images of expanding landscapes and my impressions into this composition. Mt. Haguro represents the world of the present and enables one to gain both spiritual and material benefit from this world. Mt. Gassan represents the world of the past that enshrines the spirits of our ancestors. Mt. Yudono represents the world of the future and of rebirth. Touring the three mountains is renowned as “A Journey to Rebirth.”

The sound of a bell invites the audience to enter a mysterious world. Following bird songs and the murmur of the wind on the woodwinds and strings, the brass joins in to form massive chords, while the Zuishinmon Gate, through which one passes through to Mt. Haguro, emerges.

A slow melody led by the strings carries and lifts up a feeling of eternity in the five-storied pagoda and old cedars and in an unstable sound, the figure of “C-B-G-A” is exhibited. When this sound calms down, the music climbs up the 2,446 stone steps by handing the scale over from lower-pitched to higher-pitched instruments. When it reaches the Sanjingosaiden at the summit, a solemn sound accompanied by trills and glissandos spreads out.

After multiple solos, the music moves on to Mt. Gassan in A major. The melodies by the woodwinds and brass are assumed by the entire group in C major. Mt. Gassan is a treasury of alpine plants. The excitement that is felt from their heavenly beauty is depicted softly. Mt. Yudono is represented in a gay sextuple time and by repeating modulations, the music develops a hope for the future. The end of the composition gives the impression of a new beginning and rebirth and concludes in C major while the figure “C-B-G-A” emerges in it. Throughout the music, by frequently using a figure composed of fourths and fifths, the connections among the three mountains are consciously incorporated. I would appreciate if people listen to the music while imagining these landscapes."

Shoichi Yabuta's Lhotse for marimba was commissioned by Reina Iwami who premiered the work on October 16, 2022 at the Osaka College of Music, The College Opera House (Osaka). Iwami performed the work again on November 27, 2022 at Toppan Hall in Tokyo. Yabuta notes: 
"I was inspired to compose the piece by the marimba player Reina Iwami. The strong, incisive sounds that she generates on her instrument seem to rise up vertically into the skies. It was this impression that suggested the title I gave to this piece, Lhotse being a mountain in the Himalayas well known for its almost vertical rock face.

Lhotse consists of eight short movements played without a break: 

1. This movement begins with the tonal center on C and features furious upward and downward passages. The music develops with an increasing focus on the key pitches F, G and B flat. 

2. This is a transitional section into the third movement and is in strong contrast to the first movement.

3. This movement develops on the basis of rhythmical repetition interspersed between rests with fortissimo discords and pianissimo harmonies. Except in one place, the first beat of every bar begins with a rest.

4. The focus in this movement is on melody and changes in tempo, dynamics and textural density. The music develops with sounds sweeping forward like waves.

5. Here the music alternates between four-note arpeggios and rests, with the timing being entrusted entirely to the performer.

6. This movement centers on monody colored with the occasional harmony. Following on from the fifth movement, it also incorporates frequent breaks and further changes in tempo.

7. The music here alternates between fortissimo discords and pianissimo passages. The overall sound is generated by concordant intervals making an occasional appearances within the aftertones of the discordant intervals.

8. In this final movement, the music alternates between fast passages and fortissimo fifths. The movement is dominated by the concordant intervals that had previously appeared in pianissimo but which are fortissimo here."

Norio Fukushi's META for piano and percussion was commissioned by pianist Yusuke Satoh who premiered the work on January 15, 2022 along with percussionist Satoshi Seki at Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall. Fukushi describes his piece, 

"I composed this piece in 2021 in response to a commission from the pianist Yusuke Satoh for a new work to be performed by him in recital. My idea was not to create a work in which the two performers were set in opposition to each other but rather to create a setting in which they could interact sonically along the same axis. In particular, I strove to slightly expand the potential of the piano in order to create a space-time continuum along which the two performers could merge through actions such as striking, scraping, plucking and restraining. The piano is itself, technically speaking, a percussion instrument. Although it may be categorized as such, in reality the instrument, and especially the piano available today in concert halls, is far removed from this category. The barrier created thereby meant that my task was by no means an easy one. ‘Meta’ incorporates a variety of meanings including ‘later’, ‘between’, ‘together’ and ‘changing’. The conceptual starting point for this work was the interrelationship between the piano and the percussion instruments within diverse conditions."

To learn more about Miyuko Oda, Shoichi Yabuta, and Norio Fukushi, visit zen-on.co.jp.

Miyuko Oda
A Journey to Rebirth Memories of Dewa Mountains
for orchestra
2(2.pic).2.2.2-4.2.2+btrbn.1-timp-perc-str
10'
View sample pages

Shoichi Yabuta
Lhotse
for marimba solo
10'
View sample pages

Norio Fukushi
META
for piano and percussion
13'
View sample pages


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