Shibata, Minao : 4 Inventions and 4 Doubles No.105
Work Overview
Instrumentation：Piano Solo
Genre：pieces
Copyright：Under Copyright Protection
Commentary (2)
Author : Nakatsuji, Maho
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
[Open]
Author : Nakatsuji, Maho
Four Inventions and Four Doubles
This work is described as "Piano Pieces Sung by a Pianist," not in the sense of pieces played cantabile. Indeed, the end of this work features actual vocal performance.
Regarding its compositional history, four Inventions were first published, and later, a double, a type of variation, was added to each piece.
- First Piece: The first piece freely employs two types of 12-tone all-interval series (a series connecting 12 distinct notes with 11 intervals, encompassing all intervals from minor 2nd to major 7th).
- Second Piece: The second piece draws techniques from Messiaen's music.
- Third Piece: Regarding the third piece, if the Invention is classical, the double approximates a Baroque dance.
- Fourth Piece: This fourth piece, which makes the work highly original, is based on the folk song "Hamaguri Kaki Uta (Katta Maki)" from Kashima, Ibaraki Prefecture, and its scale is used throughout. In the double, the pianist sings the original folk song. According to "Nihon Min'yo Taikan: Kanto-hen" (Japan Broadcasting Corporation, 1944, p. 25), this folk song is based on a song loudly sung by fishermen during stakeouts or celebrations of a good catch. The lyrics of the folk song sung in Shibata's work are as follows:
ハァ ゲンタカ ゲンタカ ゲンタカ ヨットアラ、ヨイトコナノナ
カッタ巻くには 伝授は要らないヨイトコナノナ
今年ゃ豊年 百姓はにこにこおえびす顔だよ ヨイトコナノナ
Four Inventions and Four Doubles was published in 1991. It is one of Minoru Shibata's very late works.
Author : Nakatsuji, Maho
Last Updated: April 20, 2018
[Open]
Author : Nakatsuji, Maho
4 Inventions and 4 Doubles
This piano piece is 'sung by a pianist.' This does not imply that it is a work to be played in a cantabile style; rather, it features an actual vocal performance at its conclusion. The four Inventions were published first, and later, Doubles—a type of variation—were added to the work.
Compositional Techniques
- First Piece: This piece freely employs two types of total serialism: tone rows connecting 12 different pitches via 11 intervals, and the use of all intervals from minor 2nd to major 7th.
- Second Piece: The second piece was composed using techniques similar to those employed by Olivier Messiaen.
- Third Piece: Regarding the third piece, if the Invention represents the Classical school, its Double can be likened to Baroque dance music.
The Fourth Piece and Folk Song Integration
It is the fourth piece that lends originality to the entire work. The main theme adopted here is a folk song from Kashima (Ibaraki Prefecture) called “Hamakaki-uta (Katta-maki).” The musical scale from this folk song is quoted in the piece. The performer of this piece is expected to sing the folk song in this Double. According to “Nihon Minyō Taikan (The General Survey of Japanese Folksongs), Kantō Region Volume,” these folk songs are based on music for fishing net operations and celebrating a large catch.
The lyrics of the folk song, as sung in Shibata's piece, are as follows (in Romanized Japanese):
Hā gentaka gentaka gentaka yotto, Ara, yoitokonanona, Katta maku niha Denju ha iranai, Yoitokonanona, Kotosha hōnen hyakusyō ha nikoniko oebisu-gao dayo, Yoitokonanona.
Publication
“4 Inventions and 4 Doubles” was published in 1991, representing a work from Shibata's later years.