Claire Huangci: "Musica Nara for Piano" by Minako Tokuyama (11.2006)

Hamamatsu International Piano Competition has commissioned works from two composers, "Distance II" from Michio Kitazume and "Musia Nara for Piano" from Minako Tokuyama, specifically for the 6th competition event in November, 2006. All the contestants received the scores three months before the competition and were required to play one of these two compositions during the second round of the competition.

** Minako Tokuyama

Minako Tokuyama is born in Osaka in 1958. She has won the first prizes in the 5th Prix de Fukui de Musique pour Harpe, and in the Internationaler Wiener Komposition in 1997 as well.

** "Musica Nara for Piano"

Musica Nara the music of Nara, or the music of one's home. Nara was once Japan's ancient capital, where the dawns and dusks were greeted by the ringing of temple bells. Guided by the slight and fluttering flight of a butterfly from the past, ancient Nara is revived once again.
The tempo quickens as the piece progresses, and within the notes begin to dance the Guardian Deities of the Children, the busy Running Priest, the Laughing Buddha, the comical demon Obstinacy, and the brave Deva King, all summoned into the present.
However, with the definitive strike of a great bell, the tempo suddenly returns to the original speed, and with one stroke time has returned to the past.
Within the echo of the last note, be sure to catch the faint sound of a Nara that lived over 1250 years ago. Looking at this piece in a different way, one may perhaps be able to call it "Variations on a Theme: Capturing Nara through Melody."
But regardless, one of the most important things is to let the butterfly within this piece fly freely.
The more you try to express a butterfly exactly as it is, the more it becomes like a mounted specimen - inanimate.
Even if you know nothing about Nara, I believe that by portraying the tranquility found in a beloved hometown, the clarity of its air, you can let the butterfly take flight. I am sincerely looking forward to hearing a performance filled with youthful energy and force......

** Claire Huangci

Born in Rochester, New York in 1990, this young lady pianist Claire Huangci is coming from a Chinese American family of scientists.

Claire Huangci performed on Concerto Winderstein Munchen's acclaimed 'Klassik Vor Acht' Series at the Herkulessaal, in Ludwigshafen's Matinee, at the Morocco Festival both solo and concerto appearances with the National Orchestre du Morocco, at the Goslar Festival of Germany, twice at the Salle Cortot of Paris, Yamaha Paris and in other European venues. She also made a radio recording for the Bayerische Rundfunk Station of Germany. In March, Claire returned to China where she replaced pianist Yundi Li in performances with the China Philharmonic Orchestra under the baton of noted pianist/conductor Shi Shucheng, performing Grieg's Piano Concerto, which were broadcast nationwide on CCTV. She was also invited to perform with the Sudwestdeusche Philharmonie Orchestre in Konstanz Germany and Schaffhausen, Switzerland the Prokofiev Piano Concerto no. 2 in April of 2007. In May 2007, Claire participated in the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition where she was the youngest contestant present. American performances include debuts with the New York Sinfonietta Orchestra, Helena Symphony, and Springfield Symphony and recitals at the Yamaha Artists Salon, choenberg Hall, and Kaufmann Center on NYC's 92nd street Y, among many others. Upcoming performances include extensive tours throughout different cities in Japan, China, and Israel, recitals in Hanover, Salzburg, Frankfurt, and Baden-Baden Germany, and concerts in Warsaw, Poland, Bruges, Belgium, and Paris, France.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Claire
• Huangci
• Minako
• Tokuyama
• Musica
• Nara
• for
• Piano

[klingsor93]

Quite an interesting piece of music and a formidable pianist!

[4313112hamamatsu]

Beautiful!

[ginga189]

Wonderful beautiful pianist!

[borawang008]

she should marry with Li Yundi.

[lovesGenet]

I've neevr heard feux follets clearer or more full of charachter.She has it all.The Stravinski 4 etudes which I love really should be played more Nakamatsu does and peopel are getting to da sonata and other stuff.Soon there will be more pianists playing living composers! This woman is fastidious and soo very musical!

[scio8]

looks like she just came from a wedding :P

[batfly]

Wonderful!

BRAVO!

[ciemtla]

married me

[wingsofaflutterby]

Not only is the piece beautiful, but so is the dress ^.^