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Funa-Uta
Subtitle: Boat Song
General Info
Year: 1993 / 1999
Duration: c. 7:40
Difficulty: V (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Bravo Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $100.00 | Score Only (print) - $10.00
Instrumentation
Full Score
Flute I-II-III (III doubles Piccolo)
Oboe I-II
Bassoon I-II
E-flat Soprano Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
B-flat Bass Clarinet
E-flat Alto Saxophone I-II
B-flat Tenor Saxophone
E-flat Baritone Saxophone
B-flat Trumpet I-II-III
Horn in F I-II-III-IV
Trombone I-II-III
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III, including:
- Bass Drum
- Bin-zasara (a bundle of pieces of wood)
- Chimes
- Crash Cymbals
- Glockenspiel
- Hyoushigi (two wooden blocks tied together)
- Sleigh Bells
- Suspended Cymbal
- Tam-Tam
- Tom-Toms (3)
- Vibraphone
- Xylophone
Errata
None discovered thus far.
Program Notes
Funa-Uta, a kind of barcarole, is based on two folk songs from the Setonaikai (the Inland Sea) area in the western part of Japan. This is a contemporary treatment of two Japanese folk songs in a challenging three-part form. It opens in the style of John Adams while the folk material undergoes full development. The work is beautifully orchestrated to make the ensemble sound rich, as well as clear. It is a true fusion of Japanese and contemporary Western musical elements and a good way to introduce students and audiences alike to an ancient sound world. While challenging, it is yet able to capture a respect for both traditions without sounding trite.
The form is A-B-A. In the A section, a folk song from Kagawa Prefecture Kompira Fune-fune is used, and in the B section, a folk song from Hiroshima Prefecture Ondo no Funa-uta is used. The form is simple, yet the composer writes a ten-voice canon in the A section, and uses polyrhythm in the B section. Japanese atmosphere is abundant, and Ito's skillful orchestration in the impromptu section played by four wind players stands out.
Commissioned by the Kure Band of Japan Maritime Self Defense Force.
- Program Note from publisher
Commercial Discography
- Audio CD: Osaka Municipal Symphonic Band
Media
State Ratings
- Georgia: VI
- Louisiana: V
- South Carolina: V
- Tennessee: V
- Texas: V. Complete
Performances
To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project
- University of South Florida (Tampa) Wind Ensemble (George Shannon, conductor) - 12 February 2021
- University of Southern Mississippi (Hattiesburg) Symphonic Winds (Colin MacKenzie, conductor)– 7 October 2019
- North Salem (Ore.) High School Wind Ensemble – 12 March 2013
Works for Winds by This Composer
- Adagio for Band (2006)
- A la Suite Classique (1996)
- As Time Is Passing On (2000)
- Carmen Fantasy (as arranger) (1875/2009)
- Choral Fantasy
- Cioccolata d'amore
- Concertino for piano and band (Ito) (2007)
- Concerto for Tsugaru-Shamisen and Band (2013)
- Diferencias on an Old Spanish Song (2020)
- Evocation (Ito)
- Fanfares for National Athletic Meet at Fukushima
- Fantasia Classica (1992)
- Fantasia on a Bach Chorale Prelude (2002/2013)
- Fantasy Variations (2004/2012)
- Festal Ballade for Band (2016)
- Festal Scenes (1986)
- Festeggiamo e Cantiamo, Musica Festiva per Banda
- Fuji, Symphonic Sketch for Band (1992)
- Funa-Uta (1993/1999)
- Gloriosa ("Gururiyoza") (1990/2013)
- Go For Broke (2000)
- Hamamatsu Overture
- Hanyang Forever! (2010)
- Kokiriko alla Marcia (1999)
- La Follia nel Bosco (2013)
- La Vita (1998)
- Liturgia Sinfonica
- Maiko Spring March
- March 'Over the Century'
- March 'Over the Wind'
- March 'The Three Tops Hill'
- March, Wind & Sun
- Meguru Kisetsu ni
- Melodies for Wind Ensemble
- Morning Songs in Hiroshima (2009)
- Mt. Fuji March (2003)
- On the March (1978/1991)
- Pacem et gloriam pro nobis
- Peace, Peace, so Sing the Birds (2018)
- Piano Concerto (Ito)
- The Planets
- Preludio Celebrativo
- Progress
- Rag-Time-March
- Rapsodia di Toyama
- Rapsodia Formosa (1992)
- Remembrance II
- Ryukuan Fantasy for Band (1997/1998/2013)
- Ryukuan Fantasy for Saxophone Quartet (1997/1999)
- The Seashell Song (2012)
- Sinfonia Singaporiana (2005)
- Solo Una Volta! (2013)
- Soma Festival March
- Soma Festival March No.2
- Sonata Classica (1996)
- Tableau
- Taiwanese Posy (2007)
- That Which He Has Taught Us (2015)
- Time into Music (2018)
- Variations from the Northern Sea (1993)
Resources
- Ito, Y. (1999). Funa-Uta (Boat Song) [score]. Bravo Music: Deerfield Beach, Fla.
- Perusal score
- Yasuhide Ito website Accessed 7 October 2019