Yasuo Kuwahara - 'The Song of the Japanese Autumn' performed by HET CONSORT - Part I

The Song of the Japanese Autumn by Yasuo Kuwahara performed here by the Dutch Mandolin Chamber Orchestra HET CONSORT conducted by Alex Timmerman, is regarded as one of the most well-known compositions for mandolin orchestra of our time. To stay within the limited YouTube broadcasting time the composition is devided in two parts; Part I inwhich the opening Andante, Allegro non troppo and Meno mosso are shown, and Part II with the 2nd Allegro non troppo, the Solo-Cadenza and the Closing Andante.

Part I:
'The Song of the Japanese Autumn' can be considered as a narrative piece of music. The composition reflects the approaching autumn, the farmers' battle against time, and the forces of nature that are coming on.The piece can be described more detailed: the peace of a beautiful Japanese landscape can be felt in the opening movement. There are moments that simply could be associated with a misty shower. In other moments, a light breeze is depicted by tremolo passages. The beginning of the second movement is stormy; an accentuated rhythm is combined with an agitated melody. From this, a broad tremolo melody which ends in stagnating trills comes into being. For a moment, the atmosphere of the first movement re-appears in the second mandolins. However, the power of the accompanying parts is so strong that the peace felt before is overshadowed now. This could refer to what autumn might have in store

Yasuo Kuwahara (1946) made his European debut in 1982 and it was since then that he received universal recognition as a musician. During his life he alternated his activities as a mandolin player and composer with several teaching posts of which the "Nara Nat. Women's College' was one. He also was the chairman of the 'Japan Association of Music Exchange' and the head of the Kuwahara Mandolin Institute'. Yasuo Kuwahara passed away in 2003.
Kuwaharas The Song of the Japanese Autumn was video taped by Jan Ulderink during a concert in the LOC Culture House in Hardenberg (Overijssel), Netherlands in 2007. Together with compositions by Stepan Rak, Jorge Cardoso, Annette Kruisbrink, Raffaele Calace, Carlo Malizia, Pieter van der Staak, Eileen Pakenham, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Johann Pachelbel, this wonderful composition by Yasuo Kuwahara is recorded by HET CONSORT on their 1st CD Aranci in Fiore.
The painting Autumn, show at the start and end of this video, was made in 1953 by the Dutch painter Ali Goubitz.

For more info about concerts, CDs and other activities of HET CONSORT, please visit their website: http://www.mandolineorkest.nl/agenda/...

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[pg5200]

magnifique...

[dowhopoluk]

our mandolin orchestra in toronto canada is playing Yasuo Kuwahara,s Song of Japanese autumn.It is wonderful, sad and joyful. We love it and will perform at our concert nov 27th,2011

[danabdeen05]

hehe, i meant part two! ;)

[danabdeen05]

This is really wonderful!! great work! Part too is just amazing as well! : )

[OrchestradiMandolini]

@TownieToscano770890

For better sound quality it is far better to order our CD from the Dutch Mandolin Chamber Orchestra Het CONSORT directly.

You can do that through the following email address:

hetconsort@yahoo.com

Thanks!

[MrEdimal]

Something beautiful, the greeting

[NightwishMasterzero1]

exelente eso si es musica salu2

[nsgade]

I love it...

Now let's play Raidoh !

[markmdavis]

Love this piece! We have played it many times and it never fails to move an audience. It was lovely to see the photo of Yasuo - he was a wonderful man and a truly creative figure in the history of the mandolin.

This is a wonderful and heart-felt performance - congratulations to Alex and the Consort!

[Benitezflamenco]

para mi la mejor obra creado para instrumentos de plectro!!! grandiosa interpretacion!! bravo!!