Les Trois Notes du Japon

From Wind Repertory Project
Toshio Mashima

Toshio Mashima


General Info

Year: 2001
Duration: c. 17:40
Difficulty: VI (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Bravo Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $295.00   |   Score Only (print) - $32.00


Movements

1. La danse des grues (Tancho cranes' mating dance) – 6:45
2. La riviere enneigee (Snowy river) – 4:15
3. Le fete du feu (Nebuta festival) – 6:15


Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe I
Oboe II/English Horn
Bassoon I-II (II optional)
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
B-flat Bass Clarinet
B-flat Contrabass Clarinet
B-flat Soprano Saxophone/E-flat Alto Saxophone I
E-flat Alto Saxophone 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
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass
Harp (optional)
Timpani
Percussion I-II-III-IV, including:

  • Bass Drum
  • Bongos
  • Claves
  • Glockenspiel
  • Marimba
  • Sleigh Bells (small)
  • Snare Drum
  • Suspended Cymbal
  • Tam-Tam
  • Vibraphone
  • Xylophone


Errata

None discovered thus far.


Program Notes

This spectacular suite, written for the Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, offers three visions of Japanese environment and life that, while Eastern in motivation, are resoundingly modern wind orchestra in style. Brilliant flourishes of the Tancho cranes mating dance, pensive scenes of winter, and the forceful urgency of the Nebuta festival's taiko drumbeats are backdrops to this lush and demanding display of technique and emotion.

- Program Note from publisher


During his period as principal conductor of Tokyo Kosei Wind Orchestra, Douglas Bostock commissioned several composers with new pieces. One of the first was Les Trois Notes du Japon (the three notes of Japan) by the popular Japanese composer Toshio Mashima, who had already collaborated with TKWO several times. Bostock asked him to write a piece on a Japanese subject. Mashima was a francophile, and his music was often influenced by the impressionist composers Debussy and Ravel. Thus, Les Trois Notes Du Japon is a symbiosis of Japanese and French impressionist elements. The premiere was on April 27, 2001, Douglas Bostock conducting the TKWO in Tokyo. Since then, this work has become one of Toshio Mashima’s most popular pieces.

The sound of Japanese traditional percussion instruments gives the music an authentic Japanese character. Nature sounds, such as the mating calls of cranes or the sound of their wings, characterize the music.

- Program Note from Orchestra Fiati Valle Camonica concert program, 20 July 2017


Media


State Ratings

  • Indiana: ISSMA SENIOR BAND GROUP I
  • Texas: V. Complete


Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project


Works for Winds by This Composer


Resources