Saturday, April 30, 2016

May 16th, 2016: Marty Regan Presents His Works For Traditional Japanese Instruments

Magic Mirror: Reflections of an American Composer in Japan 

American composer Marty Regan presents his works for traditional Japanese instruments and discusses challenges encountered in intercultural composition and issues of musical identity. His presentation will also include a brief performance demonstration of the shakuhachi (end-blown bamboo flute) as well as a discussion of the intersections between Japanese musical aesthetics and other forms of creative expression and aspects of Japanese culture.

WHERE: Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Sidgwick Site, University of Cambridge (Rm. 8 & 9)

WHEN: Monday, May 16th, 5:00PM~

Monday, April 25, 2016

April 25th, 2016: Premiere of "Three Incantations (2012)" in Tokyo

Three Incantations / 三界 (2012) to receive its world premiere in Tokyo

Where: Suginami Koukaido
When: April 25th, 2016, 6:30
http://www.suginamikoukaidou.com
Facebook invitation: https://www.facebook.com/events/527207200773803/


25絃の為に私が作曲した「三界」という曲は東京で世界初演されます。
杉並公会堂、小ホール(荻窪)

4月25日、6時開場 /6時半開演
フェースブックにによる情報:https://www.facebook.com/events/527207200773803/

Program notes

My first work for 25-string koto, Three Incantations (2012) is a musical rumination on the three realms of existence; past, present, and future. It is loosely modeled on the jo-ha-kyū form prevalent in many genres of traditional Japanese music, resulting in a gradual acceleration of tempo and energy throughout the piece. It begins quietly with meditative, sustained tones, followed by a lyrical section in 12/8 that gradually builds in dynamic and textural intensity. A slower B section characterized by extensive use of space and timbral variation creates dramatic contrast and a moment of repose. This section leads seamlessly into the recapitulation, which culminates in the powerful push-pull–of tempi–section that is the emotional high point of the work. As the piece races to a brilliant finish, which is somewhat minimalist in nature, the hands work together to create fascinating interlocked patterns of emergent rhythms and melodies, twirling the listener into the future.

解説

「三界」は25絃の為に初めて作曲した作品であり、過去、現在、未来について音楽的な黙想である。日本の伝統音楽の多くのジャンルで用いられる序破急をモデルにしており、曲の始まりから終わりに向けて、テンポとエネルギーが徐々に高まっていく。曲は、伸びやかな音と共に、思索的に静かに始まる。その後、叙情的な12/8によるセクションに入り、次第に緊張感を増していく。叙情的なBセクションでは、緩やかなテンポとなり、微妙な音色の変化によって、ドラマティックな対比と間の空間が生み出される。このセクションから、継ぎ目無く再現部へと繋がる。力強い、テンポの激しい変化によって特徴づけられ、この曲におけるクライマックスとなる。輝かしい曲の終わりに向かって、聴衆が未来へ舞い上がるように、ミニマリズムの様な交錯するリズムとメロディーのパターンが、両手を駆使しながら奏される。