Yuyama, Akira : KODOMO NO SEKAI
Work Overview
Instrumentation:Piano Solo
Genre:for children
Commentary (2)
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: April 24, 2018
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Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Children's World" is a collection of 34 piano pieces composed between 1976 and 1977. Similar to "Children's Land," Yuyama's first collection of piano pieces for children published in 1967, it is written without the use of octave playing, catering to children with small hands. The difficulty level ranges from Beyer to Sonatina. Various techniques, such as hand crossing and meter changes, are also incorporated.
Yuyama compiled this collection as a "hymn to a distant boyhood," recalling memories of his childhood, much of which he spent alone. With the desire to impart "Japanese sensibility to Japanese children," he depicts various scenes and emotions that children experience. Many of the titles, such as "A Day Out," "Why?," and "Begging," evoke images from children's daily lives.
Yuyama's works for children are characterized by "diverse rhythms," "modern chordal sonorities and the beauty of Japanese sounds," and "color changes brought about by modulation." Within the collection, rhythm is particularly well-expressed in Nos. 6 and 22, Japanese-style sonorities in Nos. 20 and 34, and the charm of modulation in No. 33. Many pieces in the latter half of the collection are suitable for recitals and other performances.
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: April 24, 2018
[Open]
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
“The Children’s World” is a collection of 34 piano pieces, which was composed between 1976 and 1977. This was created with the same concept as Yuyama ‘s first collection for children, “Children’s Land”, in 1967, written without octaves for their small hands. The difficulty level is for beginners and intermediate students who study Bayer’s piano method and Sonatines. Various techniques, such as intersection of hands and change of beat, are also included.
Yuyama summarized this collection as ‘a hymn to his boys’ age’ while looking back to the memories of his childhood when he often spent time alone. He painted the various scenes and feelings of children in this collection with the thought of ‘Japanese people’s sensitivity to Japanese children’. He also titled pieces with friendly names which can be imagined from the daily lives of children, such as ‘Dressed to Go Out for The Day’, ‘Why?’ and ‘Whining’.
Yuyama’s works for children have features such as ‘various rhythms’, ‘the sound of contemporary chords’, ‘the beauty of Japanese style sounds’ and ‘the color change caused by modulation’. In this collection, you can see his rhythmic features especially in No. 6 and 22, Japanese style sounds in No. 20 and 34 and the attractiveness of transposition in No. 33. Many songs in the latter half of the collection are very impressive to audiences when presented.
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Scores List (6)

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