Star Ship

Yukiko Nishimura

General Info

Year: 2003
Duration: c. 4:40
Difficulty: III (see Ratings for explanation)
Publisher: Southern Music
Cost: Score and Parts (print) - $69.95 | Score Only (print) - $11.95

Instrumentation

Full Score
C Piccolo
Flute I-II
Oboe
Bassoon
B-flat Soprano Clarinet I-II-III
E-flat Alto Clarinet
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
Harp
Timpani
Percussion, including:

Bass Drum
Crash Cymbal
Glockenspiel
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle

Errata

None discovered thus far.

Program Notes

Nishimura’s Starship is a work for band inspired by a Japanese story of two star-crossed lovers. According to the legend, two ancient deities fell deeply in love but were forbade to see each other save one day of the year, the seventh day of the seventh month. In Japan, Tanabata, the star festival, is annually celebrated on July seventh to celebrate the lovers who can at last be together. People hope for good weather on the day of the festival, for it is said that the deities can only find one another in clear skies.

Starship musically expresses the longing that the lovers feel when apart, as well as the joy experienced when they meet. The piece’s flowing melody and lush lyricism beautifully illustrate this age-old and universally appreciated tale of love lost and found.

- Program note by Scotty Hall for the University of Georgia University Band concert program, 26 February 2018

Media

Audio: Reference recording. Ensemble and conductor unknown
Audio CD: Rising Starr Middle School Symphonic Band (Steven Tyndall, conductor) – 2003

State Ratings

Mississippi: III-A
South Carolina: IV

Performances

To submit a performance please join The Wind Repertory Project

2022 Pride Bands Alliance (Chicago, Ill.) Blue Band (Jadine Louie, conductor) - 29 May 2022
Limestone University (Gaffney, S.C.) Wind Ensemble (Seth Taft, conductor) - 9 December 2021
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge) Symphonic Band (Kelvin Jones, conductor) - 22 April 2021
University of Georgia (Athens) Hodgson Concert Band (Matthew Sadowski, conductor) – 26 February 2018
Rising Starr Middle School (Fayetteville, Ga.) Symphonic Band (Steven Tyndall, conductor) – 17 December 2003 (2003 Midwest Clinic)

Works for Winds by This Composer

Ancient Flower (2015)
Bluebell (2018)
Bright Moon (1994)
Flying Away (2022)
Jacaranda Mimosifolia (2020)
Key West Pink! (2009)
Merry-Go-Round (2016)
Mono/Pastel (2018)
Northern Lights (2023)
Primula (2020)
Purple Martin (2019)
Sailing! (2010/2015)
Smiling After the Rain (2020)
Sparkleberry (2006)
Star Ship (2003)
Sweet New Moon (2019/2021)
Under a Winter Sky (2021)
Water Reflections (2019)
Winter Milky Way (2012/2017)

Resources

Nishimura, Y. (2003). Star Ship: For Symphonic Band [score]. Southern Music Co.: San Antonio, Tx.
Perusal score
Yukiko Nishimura website Accessed 22 June 2018