Naruhiko Kawaguchi - Ohayo: Encounter with Minipiano (2024) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

Shigehiko Kawaguchi, who has won several awards, including the highest prize at the Bruges International Competition of Ancient Music (2016) and the second prize at the 1st Chopin International Competition of Period Instruments (2018), is active both in Japan and abroad as the hope of the Japanese keyboard instrument. The fourth release on his independent label is a remarkable piece using the mini-piano, an instrument that was born in Japan but is now rarely seen or even known. Unlike toy pianos, the mini-pianos that were originally made in Japan from the end of the Taisho era (1912-1926) to the first half of the Showa era (1926-1989) had a real stringed structure, but their unique mechanics required a lot of ingenuity and time and effort to produce, and their sales numbers did not grow as expected. The number of sales was not as high as expected, and the instrument disappeared from history after only a few units were made. Shigehiko Kawaguchi, who was fascinated by this instrument when he first encountered it by chance, took the time to carefully select the repertoire for this album after meeting a technician who was working on its restoration and preservation. This is a valuable project that sheds light on an unknown aspect of Japanese piano history, and also allows the audience to encounter the magnificence of its tone and expressive power. Have you ever heard of the "mini-piano," which was developed uniquely in Japan in the first half of the 20th century? I first learned of the existence of this instrument in a small store in Amsterdam that sold vintage pianos. When I heard the sound of the mini-piano, which the owner of the store was selling as a treasure, I was so impressed that I had never heard of such an interesting part of Japanese piano history! I was so impressed! The mini-piano, with only one string for each note, could be called a precious made-in-Japan "old musical instrument. We wanted to share this interesting world of mini-pianos with as many people as possible, so with the cooperation of Atelier Pianopia in Osaka, we made recordings using four mini-pianos from KAWAI and Nippon Gakki (now YAMAHA). It was a challenge to find pieces that could be performed on these instruments, which have a limited range, but we were also able to encounter many wonderful pieces of music that we would have loved to play on the mini-pianos.Is a mini-piano a toy?" This is a commemorative mini-piano album that will be released to the world with an interest in what kind of thoughts come to your mind as a performer!

Tracklist:
01. Haydn- Allegretto in G Major, Hob.XVII-10
02. Schumann- Album für die Jugend(Album for the Young), Op. 68, Part II- Für Erwachsenere- No. 38 Winterszeit I
03. Scriabin- 5 Préludes, Op. 74- No. 4 Lent, vague, indécis
04. Janáček- Po zarostlém chodníčku(On the Overgrown Path), Book 1, JW VIII-17- No. 5 Štěbetaly jak lastovičky(They Chattered like Swallows)
05. MacDowell- Woodland Sketches, Op. 51- No. 1 To a Wild Rose
06. Glière- 8 Easy Pieces, Op. 43- No. 5 Le Soir(Evening)
07. Glière- 8 Easy Pieces, Op. 43- No. 3 Mazurka
08. Glière- 8 Easy Pieces, Op. 43- No. 6 Rondo
09. Glière- 24 Pieces caracteristiques Op. 34- No. 3
10. Bartók- 14 Bagatelles, Op. 6, BB 50, Sz 38- No. 3 Andante
11. Bartók- Petite Suite, BB 113, Sz 105- No. 6 Bagpipes
12. Haydn- Keyboard Sonata(Partita) No. 13 in G Major, Hob.XVI-6- III. Adagio
13. Rodrigo- El álbum de Cecilia- No. 1 Maria de los Reyes
14. Rodrigo- El álbum de Cecilia- No. 3 Cancion del hada rubia
15. Granados- 6 Estudios expresivos en forma de piezas faciles- No. 4 Pastoral
16. Scriabin- 24 Preludes, Op. 11- No. 15 in D-Flat Major
17. Chopin- Mazurka No. 8 in A-Flat Major, Op. 7- No. 4
18. Chopin- 19 Polish Songs, Op. 74- No. 2 Wiosna(Spring)
19. Ibert- Petite suite en quinze images(Little Suite in 15 Pictures)- III. Le gai vigneron(The Gay Wine-
20. Ibert- Petite suite en quinze images(Little Suite in 15 Pictures)- VII. La promenade en traîneau(Sleigh Ride)
21. Ibert- Petite suite en quinze images(Little Suite in 15 Pictures)- IV. Berceuse aux étoiles(Lullaby under the Stars)
22. Scarlatti- Keyboard Sonata in C Major, K. 330, L. 55, P. 222
23. Alkan- 25 Préludes dans tous les tons majeurs et mineurs, Op. 31- No. 1
24. Alkan- 25 Préludes dans tous les tons majeurs et mineurs, Op. 31- No. 17
25. Sibelius- 5 Pieces, Op. 75, -The Trees– No. 3 Aspen(The Aspen)
26. Nielsen- 6 Humoresque-Bagatelles, Op. 11, FS 22- No. 4 Spraellemanden(Jumping Jack)
27. Schumann- Album für die Jugend (Album for the Young), Op. 68, Part II- Für Erwachsenere- No. 32 Sheherazade
28. Schumann- Album für die Jugend (Album for the Young), Op. 68, Part II- Für Erwachsenere- No. 22 Rundgesang(Roundelay)
29. Indy- Schumanniana, Op. 30- No. 2 Assez vite
30. Poulenc- Villageoises, FP 65- II. Staccato
31. Alkan- 25 Préludes dans tous les tons majeurs et mineurs, Op. 31- No. 21 Doucement
32. Alkan- 48 Esquisses, Op. 63- No. 42 Petit air
33. Alkan- 48 Esquisses, Op. 63- No. 3 Le legatissimo
34. Bach- Keyboard Concerto in G Major, BWV 973(arr. of Vivaldi's Violin Concerto in G Major, RV 299)- II. Largo
35. Yamada- Nihonhuu no kage-e- No. 1 Ohayo(Good morning)


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