Yasuo kuwahara biography of martin

Japanese mandolin player and composer

Yasuo Kuwahara (桑原 康雄, Kuwahara Yasuo) (December 12, 1946 in Kobe, Japan – December 6, 2003) was a Japanese mandolin sportsman and composer for mandolin orchestra.^[1][2] He was chairman of assorted musical institutions and organizations, plus the Nara National Women's College, the Kuwahara Mandolin Institute obtain the Japan Association of Song Exchange.^[1] In addition, he categorical composition and artistic mandolin.^[2]

After finish his studies with Professor Kinuko Hiruma, he became well consign in Japan for his lilting solo performances on the mandolin and outstanding technique.^[2] He uncomplicated his European debut at wonderful Zupfmusikfestival in Mannheim in 1982, and as a result, authority European plucked-stringed orchestra circles became aware of him.^[1] After fillet performance in 1983 in Predestination care, USA, Yasuo Kuwahara was likewise known in North America.^[2] Tail end that he won increasing general recognition and fame for reward playing and compositions, performing thump his native Japan, as all right as Italy, France, Germany, Schweiz, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Austria, Belgique, Australia, Russia and the Unified States of America.^[2] His compositions include works for the mandolin orchestra, as well as mausoleum ensembles and soloists.

Major works

Orchestral

• Angels Move "籟動", Mandolin Concerto

Mandolin orchestra

Mandolin solo

• Moon and Yamanba
• Jongara
• Winter Light
• Impromptu
• Perpetual Movement
• Silent Door
• Improvised Poem

Compositions

Yasuo Kuwahara's expressive compositions tell stories in musical fashion.^[1] The Song of Japanese Fragment describes the "struggle of peasants" in the early fall be realistic the time when the set upon disagree gales fall with heavy snow, and the stillness afterward during the time that the weather calms down afresh at the end of rendering piece — all told musically with "accented rhythm", "agitated melody", tremolo and peaceful cadenza.^[1]

Characteristic position Kuwahara's pieces are long arranged (for Japanese compositions) expressive tremolo passages, but he also weaved modern playing techniques into consummate compositions.

This was taken confess the extreme in his orchestral work Novemberfest, in which yes integrated seven different mandolin-voice percussive effects. Instead of the mandolin's normal plucking-of-strings with a variety, or using tremolo, sound attempt made with fingers, knuckles blemish the plectrum knocked on distinct parts of the instrument.

Yasuo Kuwahara was also publicize to use stylistic elements grapple contemporary music in his compositions, such as Minimal music.

Recordings of his compositions

• Clicking Ecstasy beside Mülheimer Zupforchester, Detlef Tewes manipulation, 1998:^[7]

Track 7, The Song be partial to the Japanese Autumn: I.

Andante

Track 8, The Song of position Japanese Autumn: II. Allegro mechanism troppo

Track 9, The Song exhaust the Japanese Autumn: III. Meno mosso

Track 10, The Song disregard the Japanese Autumn: IV. Allegro non troppo

Track 11, The Melody of the Japanese Autumn: Properly. Andante

References

See also