Profile

Commencing their duo activities in 2008, they perform primarily visually engaging piano duet pieces that feature complex hand crossing and acrobatic body movements. They also focus on unearthing rare works that are world (or Japanese) premieres, and on original arrangements that are splendid remakes of V. Horowitz's arrangements transcribed by Yamaguchi, thus operating as an 'evolutionary' duo. They received the dedication of 'Impressive Dance No. 2 "Cinderella"' from Italian composer Roberto Piana and gave its world premiere. To date, they have appeared in various concerts, including reconstruction support concerts in areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, the Grainger Music Festival, La Folle Journée au Japon 2012 Area Concerts, and the Sultanov Memorial Concert at Kioi Hall, performing concerts in Tokyo, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka, Kagoshima, Miyagi, and Hokkaido. They also authored the currently available books 'Truly Useful! Piano Practice Methods 74' and 'Truly Useful! Piano Practice Methods 74: Still More to Know!' (Rittor Music). Their compositions are featured in the PTNA Piano Encyclopedia. In 2013, they released the CD '4Hands EVOLUTION: Evolutionary Piano Duet' (released by NAXOS JAPAN), with all 18 tracks on the album being world or Japan premiere recordings. They have released music videos filmed in a massive underground space (the former Oya Stone Quarry) on YouTube.

Official Website: http://www.ayumi-masatoshi.com 

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/ayumasaduo