Tokyo Flute Ensemble Academy Memorial Concert

Program

Marine City (1980)
The Fun Times of Figaro (1991)
Papillon (1980)
Perlamiter and Cada (1980) Alto-flute Solo Ryu Noguchi
Koropokkuru dancing with squirrels (1998)
Koropokkuru in the Forest (1996) 1st.Picc.Solo Susumu Takahisa 2nd.Picc.Solo Koji Honda
Ritual Dance Ritual Dance "Amagoi" (1988)
Afternoon Pastoral [Arrangement: Yukako Yamagami] Flute Solo Akiko Mikami (1985/2018)
1st Movement from "Morning Serenade" (2003)
<Come Sweet Death> Prelude, Fugue and Finale on the Melody of JS Bach (1994/1995)Organ Tsuguo Hirono

Profile

Conductor: Akira Aoki, Hiroshi Hari

◆Performer
Hiroshi Hari, Akira Aoki, Taiichi Uemura, Ryo Noguchi, Takao Saeki, Etsuro Sano, Mari Nakano, Akiko Mikami, Susumu Takahisa, Nao Sakitani, Michie Sakitani, Ayako Noguchi, Yufiko Maeda, Tokatsu Furuta, Saburo Oishi, Nagai Yui, Minori Yoshida, Keiko Tomura, Rie Shimizu, Kanae Kikuchi, Koji Honda
Kaya Watanabe (harp), Tsuguo Hirono (organ)

◆ Tokyo Flute Ensemble Academy and Ryohei Hirose
Founded in 1974. Hiroshi Hari, Taiichi Uemura, Yoshio Saito, Takao Saeki, Etsuro Sano, and Akira Aoki, who were teaching at the Musashino College of Music flute department, not only criticized the students, but also wanted us to do an ensemble. Furthermore, it was launched by a mutual friend, Ryu Noguchi, and like-minded friends and disciples (Nao Sakitani, Michie Sakitani, Nobutaka Shimizu, Susumu Takahisa, Akiko Mikami, Fumiko Anan, Minori Kobayashi, Yufiko Maeda, and Chikako Kato). That was the Tokyo Flute Ensemble Academy. Initially, they performed in small groups, but there were few songs in groups that many members could participate in, so Mozart's Divertimento was arranged by Hiroshi Hari, and Rossini's Sonata was arranged by Akira Aoki. There, I came across a song called "Fiesta" by Kesik (then professor of flute at the Milan Conservatoire), who used the term "flute orchestra" for the first time, and performed an encore of it with 12 people. is the first "flute orchestra" performance. Then Hiroshi Hirose, the leader of the group, visited Hirose with the tapes of this performance and commissioned him. It seems that this visit was a very natural one, as there are already many individual exchanges with the members. Hirose said at the time:
"I was surprised by the beauty of the sound of the flute ensemble, especially the transparent harmony. I had always thought of the flute only as a melody instrument, but for the first time I knew that the flute harmony could resonate so well. It was after listening to the performance of the Tokyo Flute Ensemble Academy, where virtuosos gather.” And he composed “Blue Train” (1979), which has a familiar rhythm and melody, but a fresh sound and a feeling of travel. The song was a sensational success with two encores. Since then, the unparalleled sound has attracted attention around the world, and this song and composition have spread all over the world, and are now considered classics. There are many flute beginners who want to play this.
His second work, "Marine City," and his third work, "Papillon," continued to be successful, and "Parramita and Kada," which was created for a concert tour in Europe and has Buddhist music and oriental sounds, was warmly welcomed by Westerners. was taken. Since then, the Academy has toured Australia, the United States and Europe several times with great success. In addition, Hirose has over 20 works for flute orchestra, including arrangements, many of which are largely due to the playing ability of Akira Aoki and the Academy, who encouraged and advised Hirose, who is famous for his late writing, as a commissioner or advisor. Furthermore, the development of an ultra-low bass flute by Dokatsu Furuta, who is also a flute maker, was a prerequisite for the composition. The motivation for composing was that the academy would perform with such a virtuoso. However, sometimes he was late, and he practiced a new work on the plane heading to the United States.
Hiroshi Hari, the leader of the orchestra, wrote the following in an invitation to the performers for the concert commemorating the third anniversary of his death held in August 2011.
“Mr. Hirose's works, which are unrivaled by other composers in terms of quality and quantity, are now counted as great works that are unimaginable. As you said, I would like to give you the word 'God of the Flute' from the Academy."

Reported by Ryohei Hirose Office Shuhei Hirose