Guide to "Niibori Guitar Philharmonic Orchestra (N-Orch.)" Public
Performance 2009
Kiyomi Niibori (a member of NE & Ladies' Quartet, Master of Arts in Music)
N-Orch. attained splendid achievements with all standing ovation for both of public
performances in Europe = Munich and Vienna, in 2007.
The debut and success of N-Orch. = guitar orchestra especially at sanctuary of
music, golden hall of Gesellschaft der Musikfreunde in Wien, possibly gave impact
and pleasure, as a present, for people relating to guitar in the world. That was
of course the greatest pleasure for us.
Now, let's introduce the main concert by N-Orch., scheduled in this September.
You will be able to enjoy the latest N-Method (new challenges of guitar orchestra!)
and traditional sound = memory and surprise in this public performance. It will
be highly valuable for leaders of guitar orchestras and peoples relating in guitar
world, so that audience from all Japan and overseas will gather to the concert.
Now, what are memory and surprise for this year-----?
Dr. Hiroki Niibori, the originator and foster parent of N-Orch., musical director,
conductor, called as "The second coming of Carlos Kleiber" at public
performance in Europe, will conduct for this time Polka "Eingesendet"
and Waltz "An der schonen blauen Donau", both pieces frequently performed
by Wiener Philharmoniker.
Polka Schnell "Eingesendet" was composed by Josef Strauss (1827 - 1870),
younger brother of Strauss the 2nd and called as extremely talented composer in
Strauss family, in 1867. It is very charming piece with rhythmic conversation
like and elegant melody.
"An der schonen blauen Donau" is the masterpiece of Wiener Waltz composed
by King of Waltz = Johann Strauss the 2nd(1825 - 1899)! It is called as the second
national anthem of Austria, performed at New Year Concert by Wiener Philharmoniker
in every year, and supposed to be well known among almost all peoples in the world.
This piece was originally composed as men's chorus to give vigor for peoples in
mother country, Austria, defeated in war with Prussia, but reputation at that
time was not so good. After performing by string orchestra, it became very popular.
As this piece is world's master piece and piece of work by Strauss, Dr. Niibori's
favorite composer, we thought this piece would be performed soon after performing
"Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald" (first performance by N-Orch. in 1969),
with thick racial and guitar taste, but the first performance by N-Orch. was 1998,
29 years after the first performance of "Geschichten aus dem Wienerwald"!
Dr. Niibori was said to be having an ideal sound in his brain to perform this
piece by guitar orchestra----.
Realizing his idea, improvement of performance of guitars of each sound range,
progress of performing technique, and first of all, research for harmonizing with
other instruments = full of harmony, were subjects to be solved. Finally, joining
professional flutists, cellists and accordion players, arrangement and performance
became possible to realize for this piece of music. This piece of music lead to
change the name of "Niibori Guitar Orchestra" to "Niibori Guitar
Philharmonic Orchestra" in 2001 and it will be said as taking a step forward
to full of harmony. Since then, Niibori Guitar Philharmonic Orchestra began to
perform various Strauss' work next by next.
It will be a repeat performance since 11 years absence for this piece and arranging
low sound range instruments at the center for organization & arrangement of
instruments will be reproduced. And the surprise for this time! Dancers will dance
Wiener Waltz. Dancers will be Mr. Naoya Mihashi and Mrs. Shigemi Mihashi of Mihashi
Dance School. This husband and wife are teachers having plenty of experience for
competitions in domestic and England, and said to be the teacher of dance for
Dr. Niibori. How the performance will go, it will be fully expecting.
Now, the comment on Strauss the 2nd written before by Dr. Niibori will be introduced
here.
"All of his works existed with peoples. No matter how daily lives are (at
that time, they were in war), his works gave hope, friendship, love and pleasure
for peoples. From 1844, his debut, to 1899, his death, all of his activities continued
to give peoples joy of life, regardless of their social ranks. He did not forget
love and friendship aroused by rhythm from rustic guitar held in arms of farmer
in Alps. His unique tempo rubato surely looks like a sign for calling "now,
let's step out forward first, happily together, all of you unified" to performers
and dancers. It looks like "interval" and "love", never written
possibly in musical scores. It looks like "love" cultivated in soft
strings of guitar and violin for hundreds of years."(from Guitar Music Magazine
Nov. 1975)
The reason why Dr. Niibori liked to conduct the works of Strauss will be understood
from above sentence. This type of music seems to be needed still now ---.
Then, charms only in guitar orchestra (arpeggio etc.) will be worth to hear for
this piece. Of course, Dr. Niibori's conducting is must to see.
Splendid guest will be invited for the performance. The guest performer will be
Mr. Syou Kitagawa, Balalaika performer. He was born in Tokyo in 1984 (25 years
old!?).
His grand father (Gou Kitagawa) is regular conductor of Chorus Shirakaba, and
his father (late Tsutomu Kitagawa) is founder of Tokyo Balalaika Ensemble. He
is enjoying Russian music since childhood and attained solo debut at his age of
7! He entered Russian National Rachmaninov Memorial Music Institute of Rostov
to study abroad. Since then, he continued performance activity in Russia and Japan,
and he won the top prize in Balalaika department of "Perogoria Prize",
The 7th International Russian Folk Music Competition in Nov. 2008.
Mr. Kitagawa and N-Orch. will perform "Dark Eyes" (Russian folk music~arranged
by Hiromu Taguchi) arranged for performance with Balalaika, and duo with Mr. Kitagawa
and also young performer (born in 1983) Mr. Hiromu Taguchi (guitar), succeeded
in his first recital in this June, will perform "Danza Espanola No.1"
from "La Vida Breve" composed by Manuel de Falla.
For the interesting first performance repertoire, traditional dance only in Okinawa-Miyakojima
= "KUICHA" as a theme, "Karimata-nu-kuicha" (KUICHA of Karimata)
(Kou Matsushita~arranged by Tatsuya Kumagai) will be performed. The score of this
piece was carried on this February issue, and this score contains tapping (NRM),
feet stamping and shout simultaneously all with performing guitar so that even
member of N-Orch. experiencing hard struggle now. However, this piece will become
splendid one with enjoyable rhythm and completely expressed beautifulness of guitar
orchestra.
Saying about terrible piece of music, it will be concert for flutes for this year
= "Grand Duet on Themes by William Tell" (Demersseman & Bertheremy
~arranged by Yuko Koshibe). This piece will require superb technique for flute
than many other pieces performed in the past. This difficult piece was selected
because it was possible to perform. This piece performed by wonderful flutists,
Yuko Koshibe and Miki Yamamoto, was praised highly at NE public performance in
June. This piece will show spreading out of plentiful drama with strained scenes
and tender morning haze like scenes.
And, some one will say as joke of music------members argued both sides, yes or
no!
That is, costarring with 24 electric guitars of each sound range and guitar orchestra,
"Jupiter" from "Planets" composed by Holst will be challenged.
Not only as a trial but also trying to improve musically, result is unknown now-----possibly
complete it to be disclosed? Dr. Niibori says "if said to be nonsense, that
is all, but---".
New electric guitar concert is also proposed, and now arrangement is going on.
The piece will be "Mission" composed by E. Morricone, and soloist will
be Masahiro Suzuki.
Now, as the traditional repertoire to fully enjoy beautiful sound only by guitar
orchestra, that is "Concert for 4 cembalos (all movements)" composed
by Bach.
For this piece, dealing with combination of 2 Alto cembalo Guitars and Prime cembalo
guitar (or Bass cembalo guitar) as a cembalo, 12 cembalo guitars will be arranged.
Widely spreading sound with double stringed cembalo guitars, became as present
mainstream, will be expected comparing to former performance in 1993.
"Little Pierrot" composed by Dr. Niibori will be performed for this
time with "KONPEITOU" as soloist, not child soloists (originally composed
as concert for children), young ladies' quartet, talked much about now, with N-Orch.
That will be a trial as to express the music Dr. Niibori aimed to, not as a text
for children.
Others as popular Ladies' Quartet and DANROKU (men's sextet) will also appear
on stage.
This year's motto for N-Group is "rapid progress with beautiful sound and
DVD" and many vigorous pieces are seemed to be selected for this year reflecting
present affairs of society.
Above is scheduled program for this time and encores will be-----it will depend
upon handclaps of audience.
This public performance with full of topics will be held at Muza Kawasaki Symphony
Hall at 13:30 on Sept. 6 (Sun.). The hall is a splendid hall with rich sound and
able to feel performers near by. You can also enjoy dining and shopping at Muza
Kawasaki (urban complex facility).
Making your pleasant plan will be advised.
Public Performance by Niibori Guitar Philharmonic Orchestra 2009
Sept.6 (Sun.), 2009 Curtain rises at 13:30 at Muza Kawasaki Symphony Hall
SS seat 9,000yen, S seat 7,000yen, A seat 6,000yen, B seat 5,000yen, C seat 3,500
yen (middle and high school student 2,000yen)
For questions, advice & requests about Monthly Harmony,
Niibori Guitar Music Academy, Editorial Office
143-14 Fujisawa, Fujisawa-shi, Kanagawa-ken,
251-0052 Japan
Phone: +81-466-23-8338 / Fax: +81-466-23-9337
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