Portfolio of recorded performances and exegesis: the influence of selected traditional Japanese musical concepts on contemporary flute repertoire.

Abstract

This submission investigates the influence of selected Japanese traditional musical concepts on the contemporary flute repertoire through performance. The influence of selected Japanese traditional musical concepts and techniques from traditional instruments particularly the shakuhachi (vertical bamboo flute) are explored. Repertoire selected from works by Japanese composers that have a theme of nature especially seasons and birds as well as two works by European composers are presented in order to compare different approaches to the same theme. The exegesis provides a brief historical context, introduces key Japanese concepts such as ma (silence), and ichion jōbutsu (tonality) as well as selected shakuhachi techniques before discussing their application in performance. Examples taken from the author’s recitals are used to illustrate the discussion and the two CDs of the complete recitals are integral to the submission. CD 1: Nature and Seasons Sakura Variations for Flute and Piano (1962) Japanese Folk Song (Masao Yoshida, arr.). Autumn Fantasy for Flute and Piano (1987/88) Minoru Miki. Air for Flute Solo (1995) Tōru Takemitsu. Sonata for Flute and Piano -Hana no Uta (The Song of Flowers)- (1967) Hikaru Hayashi. Itinerant -In memory of Isamu Noguchi- for Flute (1989) Tōru Takemitsu. Sonata Festosa for Flute and Piano, Op. 17 (1937) Bunya Koh. CD 2: Nature and Birds Le Merle Noir for Flute and Piano (1951) Olivier Messiaen. Air for Flute Solo (1995) Tōru Takemitsu. First Sonata for Flute and Piano (1945) Bohslav Martinu. Mei for Solo Flute (1962) Kazuo Fukushima. Digital Bird Suite for Flute and Piano, Op. 15 (1982) Takashi Yoshimatsu. Akatombo (Red Dragonflies) for Flute and Piano (1973) Kōsaku Yamada (Teruyuki Noda, arr.).