Ueno, Koji : Untama Giru for piano
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Instrumentation:Piano Solo
Genre:Various works
Copyright:Under Copyright Protection
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Last Updated: May 14, 2019
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Consisting of 12 blocks. In the second block, a whole-tone scale is superimposed on a Ryukyu mode that includes semitones, creating a unique sense of suspension that evokes what is described as "Okinawa's sacred languor." This music was composed as the main title for the film "Untamagiru" (1989), directed by Go Takamine, an Okinawan filmmaker known for his fantastical and cynical narrative style. The film was shot entirely on location in Okinawa, with all dialogue in Ryukyuan. The title means "The Righteous Thief of Untama Forest," referring to a rebellious character well-known in Okinawan village plays and other forms of entertainment (who always outwits Satsuma merchants). It received awards such as the Caligari Film Award at the Berlin Film Festival and the Mainichi Film Concours Music Award.