Ichiyanagi, Toshi : Piano Concerto No.1 Reminiscence
Work Overview
First Publisher：Schott
Instrumentation：Concerto
Genre：concerto
Total Playing Time：14 min 00 sec
Copyright：Under Copyright Protection
Commentary (2)
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: April 24, 2018
[Open]
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Piano Concerto No. 1 "Spatial Memory" was composed in 1981, commissioned by NHK. It was Ichiyanagi's first concerto. Having encountered and assimilated avant-garde music in America, he began to develop his unique style in the 1980s, introducing the concept of "musical spatiality." This piece, his first work in this vein, received the 30th Otaka Prize.
The work, though in a single movement, comprises three sections.
Section 1
In the first section (measures 1-50), short melodic fragments appear and disappear chaotically, presenting a "multilayered space." The piano part merely plays a role in this.
Section 2
The second section consists of a first half (measures 51-123) and a second half (measures 124-157). In the first half, unprecedentedly long melodic lines are played by the piano and the orchestra respectively, revealing "two distinct spaces." In the second half, these gradually transform and expand, integrating into a single flow.
Section 3
The third section (measures 158-428) begins with a sudden piano solo. Based on quintuplets in the left hand, and with the right hand's tuplets and other instruments' sounds persistently repeating while increasing and decreasing, a "densification of spatiotemporal fabric" occurs. Finally, after a brief reappearance of the opening of the first section, the piece concludes.
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Last Updated: April 24, 2018
[Open]
Author : Sudoh, Eiko
Piano Concerto No.1 ‘Reminiscence of Spaces’
Piano Concerto No.1 ‘Reminiscence of Spaces’ was composed in 1981, commissioned from NHK. For Ichiyanagi, it was his first concerto. He studied avant-garde music in the United States, and began composing with his own style which included his original concept, “music as a spatial art”, in the 1980s. This work was the first work which was written with this concept, and awarded the 30th Otaka Prize.
Structure
This work has three parts in one movement.
First Part (measures 1-50)
Short melodic fragments appear and disappear in a disorderly manner. It expresses “multilayered spaces.” The piano part takes only a part of the whole resonance though this work is a Piano Concerto.
Second Part (measures 51-157)
This part consists of the first half (51 to 123 measures) and the second half (124 to 157 measures).
- In the first half, long melodies are played by each piano and orchestra, which express “two different spaces.”
- In the second half, they are gradually integrated into one melody.
Third Part (measures 158-428)
This part is suddenly started by a piano solo. The number of tuplets for the right hand in the piano part and the parts for different instruments repeatedly increase and decrease, while the five-tuplets for the left hand in the piano part is consistently played. It expresses “brewing the density of the time and space in music.” Finally the first part of this work appears again for a moment, and then the work ends.