Eitetsu Hayashi, the best taiko soloist, will be performing in Romania a concert including a classical contemporary music concerto and a Taiko Solo. The “George Enescu” Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by maestro Horia Andreescu will accompany the artist.

The concerts draw a parallel between traditional Romanian and Japanese music through modern Japanese compositions written for traditional instruments and world-renowned works influenced by folkloric motifs found on the Romanian territory.

The show’s schedule include “Hi-Ten-Yu – A Concerto for Japanese Drum and Orchestra”, signed by composer Isao Matsushita in 1993 and a Taiko Solo, as well as compositions from musicians like George Enescu- Romanian Rhapsody no.1 in A Major, Doru Popovici- Codex Caioni (fragments), Ciprian Porumbescu- Ballad, Bela Bartok- Romanian Folk Dances, Tiberiu Olah- Mihai Viteazul Suite (fragments), Grigoras Dinicu- Hora Staccato, programmed for the first part.

The “Great Encounters” evening will start off with George Enescu’s best known orchestral piece- Romanian Rhapsody no. 1 in A major, composed when he was barely 20 years old. Inspired by Romanian folklore, the rhapsody borrows themes from traditional Romanian folk songs like: “Am un leu şi vreau să-l beu”, “Hora lui Dobrică”, “Mugur, mugurel”, “Ciobănaşul”, “Hora morii”, “Sârba”, “Jumătatea de joc” and “Ciocârlia. The songs’ effervescent and colourful character entwine with Enescu’s spectacular orchestration giving birth to an expansive sound of great melody.George Enescu, one of the most important Romanian musicians composed three symphonies, an opera, numerous works for piano, cello and violin, and over the years he taught violin players like Christian Ferras, Ivry Gitlis, Arthur Grumiaux and Yehudi Menuhin.

Next, the public will listen to fragments of a selection done by Doru Popovici from Codex Caioni, a collection of Transylvanian songs, discovered in 1988 in a monastery wall. The Collection was put together by Franciscan monk Ion Caianu in the XVII century and comprises sacred, profane, schaloar and folk pieces from Europe, the 346 works offering a large perspective on XVII century Transylvanian music.

Over the years Codex Caioni has been an inspiration to XX century composers.  Doru Popovici has made a selection from the codex, by principle of contrast, of alternating dance with slow, cantabile movements.  Doru Popovici is a composer whose creation includes a large segment of works, from symphonies to theatre, opera, instrumental, vocal and choral music. His creative path marks post impressionist, dodecaphonic and post byzantine periods, Codex Caioni being part of this last segment.

Further on, the famous Ballad by Ciprian Porumbescu, one on the most appreciated XIX century composers, whose creation is marked by works of profound national spirit. His best known piece, Ballad for violin and piano (1880), is a romantic one, using elements of Romanian “doina” and romance, the nostalgic nuances and accents of dark and light making it profoundly lyrical.  The ballad, mostly played in its symphonic version, is present in the repertoire of many international artists. Moreover, it was brought to Japan by Atsuko Temma, one of the strong violin personalities of Japan and the world, the ballad still being part of the artist’s repertory.

The program also features Romanian Folk Dances, by the great composer Béla Bartók, considered one of the most important musicians of the XX century. His style is a synthesis of folk music, classicism and modernism, him being profoundly influenced by Romanian folk music, instrumental one in particular, due to its timbral diversity. Romanian Folk Dances are based on Transylvanian songs Bartók collected from peasants and gypsies during his ethno-musicological trips through 1910-1914. The six dances were initially written for piano, but later Bartók re-orchestrated them for musical ensemble.

Concerts will include fragments from Mihai Viteazul Suite by Tiberiu Olah, composition written for the homonymous movie. For the 1970 film directed by Sergiu Nicolaescu Tiberiu Olah composed one of the most spectacular scores in Romanian cinema. Over the years fragments from this score have been included in repertoire of symphonic ensembles: “Dans la Curtea Regală”, “Răsună trompeţii” and “Intrarea lui Mihai Viteazul în Albă Iulia”. Tiberiu Olah signs scores of seventeen films including: “Mihai Viteazul”, “Meandre”, “Atunci i-am condamnat la moarte”, “Nemuritorii”, “Osânda”, “Vlad Ţepeş” and “Horea”.

The first part of the show will end with Hora Staccato, piece for violin, renowned for its demanding virtuosity and difficulty. The piece that madeGrigoras Dinicu famous was written for his graduation from the Bucharest Conservatory in 1906 and played at the ceremony.  Grigoras Dinicu is also known for making worldwide popular “Ciocârlia”, a piece composed by his grandfather, Angheluş Dinicu.

The work that made him immortal is one of great virtuosity, and has been know after the arrangement done by Jascha Heifetz in 1932, later being arranged for trumpet, piano and violin and orchestra. The staccato technique requires playing as many sounds possible in one movement of the bow, thus its difficulty and the reason for which some violin players rather use the spiccato technique.

After a short intermission the public will enjoy the main concert of the evening- Hi-Ten-Yu, A concerto for Japanese drum and Orchestra, played by special guest Eitetsu Hayashi. “The composition’s title, made out of three Chinese sighs, Hi-Ten- Yu (Fly- Heaven-Play),metaphorically draws the flight to heaven for playing among the stars. Following the title structure, the piece is divided into three movements, from a general still to a vigorous dynamism”, says Isao Matsushita, the composer.

The main instrument, Japanese drum wa-daiko weighs about 1322 pounds and has been brought from Japan by special delivery. “A usual instrument in festival ceremonies in Japan, the wa-daiko imitates a communion between heaven and earth. This drum’s powerful sound reaches heaven, turns into an acoustic vibration and resonates back like a thunder from earth’s abyss. While the drum’s vibrant energy represents a world, the other requires the orchestra a logical response. In all the parts of the composition I attempted to unify these two worlds”, Isao Matsushita confesses.

Eitetsu Hayashi, the soloist of the Hi-Ten-Yu concert is a living legend and a star in his native Japan, and he is considered to be the one that revolutionized the way taiko is played. Part of the Buddhist and Shinto ceremonies, taiko has become a specific manner of percussion, renowned for elevating performances. Eitetsu is a pioneer not only through his odaiko mastery but also to his collaborations with orchestras and movie scoring.

The concerts will take place in Bucharest, on the 20th of October at Palace Hall, starting at 19:00 and in Sibiu, on the 23rd of October, Thalia Hall, starting at 19:00.

An event organized by ARTmania Events, supported by Embassy of Japan in Romania, Tokyo Metropolitan Government, Japan Foundation, Sibiu Local Council through Sibiu City Hall, Sibiu District Council in partnership with Sibiu International Theatre Festival.

Partners: Continental Hotels through Grand hotel Continental Bucharest and Continental Forum Sibiu, Blackhawk Security, Printcenter.ro

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Ticket prices vary between 80-180 lei. Tickets are available in Diverta and Germanos shops, Carturesti, Humanitas, Domo, Orange, Vodafone and online on www.eventim.ro and www.myticket.ro