Furusato

Item details

• Description +

  • Duration: 5 min.
    
    Furusato, which is translated into 'hometown', is a Japanese folksong.  One day while I was on tour in Europe, I was walking alone to a concert hall to give a performance, and I suddenly felt very nostalgic towards my hometown in Kagoshima, Japan, and its people. The melody of Furusato was circling in my mind, therefore I played it as an encore for that performance.  Since then, I have played this piece on numerous occasions, and also decided to commit it to paper.  My hope is that this music will bring the listeners of this CD fond memories of your loved ones and your own hometown.

• Instrumentation +

  • Marimba (5 octave)

• Watch+

• About the composer +

  • ''Passionate, sensitive, and technically perfect. These are the first of many words that describe Eriko Daimo's music making.  More importantly, what captures me the most is her natural and pure musicality.  She has the ability to become one with the music and transcend the audience into a state of ecstasy.'' 

    Kaoru Wada, Composer

    
    The award-winning percussionist, Eriko Daimo, is internationally recognized as a leading figure of her field, known for her 'orchestral' sound that ranges from the utmost delicate pianissimo to explosive fortissimo.  Her recent engagements include concerto performances with the Magdeburg Philharmonic, Osaka Symphony Orchestra, Melrose Symphony Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony Orchestra and Orchestra Nipponika; as well as performance tours to Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Austria, Croatia, Spain, France, Mexico, Belgium, Japan and the U.S.
 
    
    She has appeared in festivals such as the International Marimba Festival in Minneapolis, Festival Internacional de Marimbistas in Mexico, Festival des Journees de la Percussion in Paris, Universal Marimba Festival in Belgium, PercuFesta in Spain, Power of Drum Festival in New York, International League of Artists Marimba Festival in Tokyo, and PASIC.   
    
    As an educator, she has given performances and masterclasses at music institutions such as the University of Music and Performing Arts Vienna, New York University, Royal Danish Academy of Music in Copenhagen, San Francisco Conservatory, Colburn Conservatory, University of Michigan, University of North Texas and University of Illinois.  Her numerous prizes include 1st prizes at the International Marimba Competition 2004 in Belgium, Japan International League of Artists Competition, and Japan Soloist Music Competition. 
    
    Born in Kagoshima, Japan, Ms. Daimo began her musical studies at age five on the piano. She started studying the marimba when she entered high school in 1997, and went on to study at the Aichi Prefectural University of Fine Arts and Music and the Boston Conservatory.  Ms. Daimo currently resides in New York. She is a Marimba One and Vic Firth Artist.

• Reviews +

  • Review (Percussive Notes, May 2014)

    Homesickness and nostalgia are emotions that can affect everyone and that can inspire music that crosses cultural boundaries. This simple, yet moving, piece of music was arranged by marimba virtuoso Eriko Daimo to communicate this sense of longing. The original work was composed by Teiichi Okano (1878– 1941), with lyrics by Tatsuyuki Takano (1876–1947). A sample of the text communicates the emotion of the music: “I wonder how my parents are doing. I hope my friends are doing well. Whenever it rains or storms, I am reminded of my hometown.”
    
    Aside from a brief introduction, the entire work is scored in a rolled “chorale” style. Daimo makes effective use of idiomatic voicings and utilizes the range of the low-C instrument that “sings” the best in this style of writing. While this piece will be technically accessible to a wide variety of marimba soloists, the four-voice setting will challenge the performer to balance the lyrical melody against the underlying counterpoint. This work was recorded by the arranger and is available on her Origin CD.
    
    —Jason Baker

• Credits +

  • Front Cover Image: Shuichiro Minami
    Front Cover Design: Ronni Kot Wenzell
    Photo: Gian Andrea di Stefano
    Lyrics: Tatsuyuki Takano
    Translation: Karen Hida
    Engraving: Eriko Daimo 
    Printed in Copenhagen, Denmark
    www.editionsvitzer.com

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