Market Bridge

From Wind Repertory Project
Julie Giroux

Julie Giroux


Movement II from Bookmarks from Japan. Also entitled Nihonbashi.


General Info

Year: 2013 / 2020
Duration: c. 3:00
Difficulty: IV-1/2 (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Musica Propria
Cost: Score and Parts - $70.00   |   Score Only - $18.00


Instrumentation (Flexible)

Full Score
Part 1

  • Flute
  • E-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • B-flat Soprano Saxophone

Part 2

  • Flute
  • Oboe
  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet

Part 3

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone

Part 4

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • B-flat Trumpet

Part 5

  • B-flat Soprano Clarinet
  • E-flat Alto Saxophone
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • Horn in F

Part 6

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • B-flat Tenor Saxophone
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone
  • Trombone
  • Euphonium

Part 7

  • Bassoon
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone

Part 8

  • Bassoon
  • Contrabassoon
  • B-flat Bass Clarinet
  • E-flat Baritone Saxophone
  • Tuba
  • String Bass

Percussion, including:

  • Marimba
  • Snare Drum
  • Temple Blocks
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

The composer’s inspiration for this symphony was a gift of six bookmarks featuring famous works by Japanese artists. Ms. Giroux says, “My imagination was whirling with each scene painted on each bookmark. I knew right then and there that those little bookmarks would be the subject of my next symphony.” Two of the six movements are based on selections from Hokusai’s series of woodcut prints, 36 Views of Mt. Fuji. Four movements are based on prints by Hiroshige; three of them are from 53 Stations of the Tokaido Highway which depict the picturesque resting stations along the famous road between Kyoto and Tokyo, and the other is from an additional work.

- Program Note by Edward C. Harris for the San Jose Wind Symphony concert program, 17 July 2015


II. Nihonbashi - "Market Bridge" Based on the bookmark Nihonbashi by Hiroshige Ando, which is from the print series The 53 Stations of the Tokaido Highway

Hiroshige Ando (1797-1858) traveled the Tokaido from Edo to Kyoto in 1832. The official party he was traveling with were transporting horses which were gifts to be offered to the imperial court. The journey greatly inspired Hiroshige, for he sketched many of its scenes during his round-trip travels. In all, Hiroshige produced 55 prints for the series The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido. Fifty three of the prints represent each of the 53 post stations along the way. The two additional prints are of the starting and ending points. The post stations offered food, lodging and stables for travelers of the Tokaido Highway.

The Nihonbashi bridge was the central point of development, which is now a business district of Chuo, Tokyo, Japan, aptly named the Nihonbashi District. For centuries it thrived as a mercantile district. The first department store ever developed in Japan was by the Mitsui family named Mitsukoshi. From its early days as a fish market to the current financial district of Tokyo (and Japan), this bridge spanning the Nihonbashi River is a true landmark in Tokyo. In fact, highway signs that state the distance to Tokyo actually state the distance to the Nihonbashi bridge. Up until shortly before 1964, you could see Mount Fuji from the bridge; however, the 1964 Summer Olympics put in a raised expressway over the Nihonbashi bridge, obscuring its view entirely. Petitions to relocate the expressway underground in order to regain view of Mount Fuji are continuous but so far have been futile due to the costs for such a project.

This movement is a melody of my own crafting. It is folk sounding in nature as I was trying to capture the spirit of the bridge going all the way back to 1603 when the first wooden bridge was built over Nihonbashi River. It started out as a fish market but quickly became a place for other merchants to gather. In this piece, the melody gets tossed from instrument to instrument representing the continuous street hoking and haggling that was...

Let's just hope there are no wipeouts or fiery crashes.

- Program Note by composer


Media


State Ratings

None discovered thus far.


Performances

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Works for Winds by This Composer

Adaptable Music


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Resources

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