Mutsumi Tsunisaki Concert "Revived Now! Xylophone Days vol.18".

　This will be the 18th in the series of music retracing the story of my book "Xylophone Days: Yoichi Hiraoka's Life of Music in Ten-i Muhou" (Kodansha). This year's program will focus on Mozart's "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" performed by xylophone and string quartet, which was the xylophone virtuoso Yoichi Hiraoka's "No. 18. Moritsuna Kuroyanagi (father of Tetsuko Kuroyanagi), who served as concertmaster of the NHK Symphony Orchestra, said, "For a while after the war, there were no violinists in Japan who could play Mozart like Mr. Hiraoka, and many violinists who heard of his reputation packed his concerts. Many violinists who heard his reputation packed his concerts. In particular, "Eine Kleine Nachtmusik" has often been performed on occasions that could be considered milestones in his life. In his first recital in New York (Town Hall, 1936), he was accompanied by a string quartet of members of the New York Philharmonic. He also gave a commemorative performance on his return from the United States during the war (conducted by Manfred Gurlitt with the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra at Hibiya Public Hall, 1942), a recital at Carnegie Hall in 1962, his first visit to New York in 20 years, and his last record, Lullabies on the Xylophone (Fontec, 1977). It is also recorded on his last record, "Xylophone Lullabies" (Fontec, 1977). I have played only one movement of the piece in the past, but this time I will perform all the movements for the first time in a new arrangement by Yoji Matsusono. In addition, "La Cumparsita" from a tango number that Hiraoka was crazy about in his later years will be newly arranged by Ms. Yukiko Nishinup. With an eye toward the future of "my 18th number," the concert will also feature works by up-and-coming composer Akiko Yamane and a new work by Masami Noda, a composer who has been an integral part of Xylophone Days. The ensemble will be joined by Shinji 釋, Naoko Kawabata (violin), Minako Matsuda (viola), and their trusted cellist Kimika Hosoya, who provided excellent support as members of the Kyoto Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble on their 2007 CD "1935. The xylophone and string quartet formation was a favorite of Yoichi Hiraoka. We hope you will enjoy their gorgeous and joyful sound.

Mutsumi Michizaki