arranged by Bruce Stark
five traditional Japanese melodies
clarinet and piano
piano score (23 pages) and part
These are all well-known Japanese songs, but until now have there been such fresh, appealing arrangements? All the arrangements are natural and easy to perform, however new discoveries await the player in each piece.
— Kazuo Fujii, clarinetist and educator
PROGRAM NOTES
I lived in Tokyo for over 20 years, and during that time I performed my arrangements of traditional and well-loved Japanese melodies in a variety of combinations with many wonderful Japanese musicians. The beauty and simplicity of these exquisite melodies is irresistible, and I hope my arrangements can offer new versions that impart a fresh life to the material. From the first time I set foot in Japan I felt that part of me was inexplicably connected to the country, and the creation of these arrangements was an expression of my love of the subtle and bitter-sweet elements of Japanese culture that have inspired me and broadened my perspectives for many years.
— Bruce Stark