Be captivated by Debussy as performed by goddesses.
(Top image) Tamaki Kawakubo (C) Yuji Hori / Mie Kobayashi (C) Akira Muto / Yoshiko Kawamoto / Mari Endo (C) Katsumi Nakayama
Yurie Miura (C) Yuji Hori / Yoshie Ueno (C) Akira Muto / Naoko Yoshino (C) Akira Muto
Enjoy it casually! A life with concerts
File.3 Claude Debussy 100th Anniversary of His Death: Chamber Music Retrospective
(Mitsusaburo Mori / Music Writer)
Claude Debussy (1862-1918), the great French composer famous for his symphonic poem "La Mer," decided to compose "Six Sonatas for Various Instruments" in his later years. This was partly to compete with the then-flourishing German composers and to make the world aware of the brilliance of French music.
I've started off with a very serious tone, but back then, and even now, most composers in the classical music world are of German descent. Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, of course, but also Brahms, Wagner, Mendelssohn, and so on—if I were to list them all off the top of my head, it would seem like they're all German composers.
To put it somewhat bluntly, German music is obsessed with structure and form. When you start to see that "form," you feel like you "get it!" And that becomes "fun!" and "something to talk about!" and I actually love it too.
So what is Debussy's music like?
I still clearly remember my first impression when I heard it.
I don't really understand.
It's fluffy.
Looks stylish, doesn't it?
It's sparkly and beautiful.
Music that defies categorization.
But it felt incredibly liberating...that was refreshing.
It certainly has nuances that are reminiscent of the style of French Impressionist painters.
If Monet attempted to depict the shifting light and the passage of time within the fixed plane of a painting, then Debussy, through the temporal art of music, could be said to have evoked vivid, three-dimensional images in the listener's sensibilities. (Incidentally, Debussy himself apparently disliked being called an "Impressionist.")
The music of contemporary composer Toru Takemitsu and jazz pianist Bill Evans, influenced by Debussy, is free, elusive, and beautifully transparent.
To commemorate the 100th anniversary of Debussy's death, a concert featuring his chamber music works will be held. The venue is Philia Hall in Aoba Ward, Yokohama City, a renowned chamber music venue perfect for enjoying small ensembles.
The instruments used are violin, viola, cello, piano, flute, and harp. From solo performances to ensembles of up to five people, the program offers a variety of combinations to enjoy the sounds and resonances.
The performers are all accomplished musicians who are regulars in Philia Hall's renowned "Encounters with the Muses" series, and of course, they all specialize in French music. One can imagine Debussy, who wasn't averse to women (in fact, he was said to have had many troubles with them), grinning with delight in the afterlife.
Of course, the sonatas from his later years, which he composed only three of before his death, will also be performed.
Yoshie Ueno (C) Akira Muto, Yoshiko Kawamoto, Naoko Yoshino (C) Akira Muto
My personal recommendation is the "Sonata for Flute, Viola and Harp."
The main melody has a mysterious and somewhat unapproachable atmosphere.
I try my best to follow the sounds with my ears.
The anxiety you feel when you suddenly lose sight of something.
And then there's the feeling of relief when they reappear from nowhere.
Naoko Yoshino is the best in the world at playing this song; her utterly beautiful harp technique is simply exquisite. Please enjoy!
Philia Hall 25th Anniversary Concert
Claude Debussy 100th Anniversary Chamber Music Retrospective
Date: Saturday, November 24, 2018
Venue: Philia Hall, Aoba Ward Community Cultural Center, Yokohama City
Show starts: 14:00 / Estimated end time: 16:30
Ticket prices: (All seats reserved) S seats ¥6,000 / A seats ¥5,500
