The twelfth in a series of regular concerts by the Hougaku Quartet, whose activities have developed from a three-pronged perspective: the commissioning of new works as a collaborative effort with composers in order to explore the hougaku of “today” and of the “future”; the revival of modern masterpieces of traditional Japanese music composed since the 1960s; and the group’s cornerstone activity, performance in the traditional “Sankyoku” style (a classic ensemble with Sangen, Koto and Shakuhachi).
Program
1. Density(1984) Toshi Ichiyanagi
1st Koto: Yuiko Terai, 2nd Koto: Hiroyasu Nakajima, Sangen: Noriko Hirata, Shakuhachi: Reison Kuroda
2. Makimuku(1971) Ryouhei Hirose
1st Koto: Hiroyasu Nakajima, 2nd Koto: Noriko Hirata, 17string Koto: Yuiko Terai, Shakuhachi: Reison Kuroda
3. Chiyo no Uguisu(Japanese Traditional Music) Mitsuzaki Kengyo
Sangen: Noriko Hirata, Koto: Yuiko Terai, Shakuhachi: Reison Kuroda
4. Hougaku Quartet(2021 world premiere) Shoichi Asai
1st Koto: Noriko Hirata, 2nd Koto: Hiroyasu Nakajima, 3rd Koto:Yuiko Terai, Shakuhachi: Reison Kuroda
Hougaku Quartet
A quartet formed in spring 2011 by four graduates of the Department of Japanese Music at Tokyo University of the Arts (Noriko Hirata / Yuiko Terai/Hiroyasu Nakajima on Koto, Sangen and 17-string Koto, Reison Kuroda on Shakuhachi).
Under the concept of creating music for today and for the future with traditional Japanese instruments, the Quartet’s activities have developed from a three-pronged perspective: the commissioning of new works as a collaborative effort with composers in order to explore the hougaku of “today” and of the “future”; the revival of modern masterpieces of traditional Japanese music composed since the 1960s; and the group’s cornerstone activity, performance in the traditional “Sankyoku” style (a classic ensemble with Sangen, Koto and Shakuhachi). The Quartet’s performances have been highly acclaimed in Japan and overseas.
Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall, Shinjyuku City, Tokyo