PIANO SUITE
(1933)

Akira Ifukube and Alexander Tcherepnin (1936)

Piano Suite is Akira Ifukube's fourth musical composition, written when the composer was 19 years old. Ifukube composed this piece for George Copeland, an American pianist who was then living in Spain. After hearing one of Copeland's performances on an SP record, Ifukube enthusiastically sent the pianist a fan letter. Copeland responded by saying that he was interested in performing Japanese music and requested that Ifukube send him a score. Instead of sending Copeland an existing composition, Ifukube decided to write an original piece; the end result of Ifukube's efforts was the Piano Suite.

American pianist George Copeland

Through the generous sponsorship of Alexander Tcherepnin, this work was published in the 1930s by Universal and Schirmer Publishers. In 1938, it was selected for the Venice International Contemporary Music Festival. Subsequently, Piano Suite was performed in various parts of the world by Tcherepnin himself, as well as by Gino Gorini and by Manfred Gurlitt.

Piano Suite consists of four parts, an allegro, adagio, scherzo and finale.

The first movement is called "Bon odori" (Nocturnal Dance of the Bon Festival). Bon is a Buddhist festival to honor the spirits of the deceased. Ifukube wrote this movement based on the traditional music that accompanies the energetic dancing of the festival.

Traditional Bon odori dancers

The second movement is called "Tanabata" (Fête of Vega). Tanabata is star festival that was introduced to Japan from China. During this event, people write wishes or poetry on small pieces of paper and hang them on bamboo trees. After the festival, the bamboo and decorations are often set afloat on a river or burned. Ifukube's music for this movement invokes the dignified serenity of the event with slow, nocturnal melodies.

Woman with Tanabata festival decorations

The third movement is called "Nagashi" (Profane Minstrel). A nagashi is a homeless street performer. Ifukube's music for this movement begins with a fanfare which recalls the sound of a shamisen (a Japanese three-string guitar). Subsequently, the music alternates between slow and fast sections evoking both the nagashi's tragic lonesomeness and whimsical entertainments.

The fourth and final movement is called "Nebuta" (Festal Ballade). The Nebuta festival, which has its origins in the Aomori region of Japan, is celebrated in early August. The purpose of this event is to purge the world of demons before the arrival of the fall harvest season. During his college days, Ifukube visited Aomori had had the opportunity to observe this festival firsthand. The main characteristic of the Nebuta festival is an evening procession of floats and lanterns. Ifukube's music vividly illustrates the procession with a vigorous march. The movement begins quietly but gradually becomes louder suggesting the approach of lanterns. As the music progresses it becomes a frenzied ostinato suggesting the wild enthusiasm of the celebration.

Piano Suite was dedicated to George Copeland.

In 1991, Ifukube arranged the score of Piano Suite for a full orchestra; this arrangement is known as Japanese Suite.

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