
Clarinet performance at the Southern Seto Music Festival
Following last year, I was once again invited by Asami Matsui, a composer and pianist, to perform on stage.
While Asami is focusing on composition this year, she usually performs a wide range of activities including jazz concerts, choir accompaniment, and serving as the artistic director for a big band. It's no wonder she has many fans both within and outside the prefecture. Her inherently bright and energetic demeanor is truly invigorating.
This year's "assignment" from Asami was a piece called "Autumn Sky". It was originally a composition for low-pitched instruments, but she rearranged it for clarinet performance.
The melody unfolds in long, sustained notes following a mellow piano introduction. The underlying harmony is truly beautiful. It feels as if the seasons are shifting from the vibrancy of summer, with clouds drifting high in the sky. Midway through, one can envision dry and colored leaves dancing in the wind, occasionally whirled up by strong gusts. The trees are changing color, there's a crispness in the air, and everything seems to be rushing headlong into winter.
Throughout the piece, there are sprinklings of harmony that evoke feelings of loneliness, endearment, and moments that make your heart skip a beat. When we first played it together, there were parts where I couldn't help but exclaim, "Wow, this is really cool harmony progression." with excitement.
During the performance, the sections that soar into higher registers were challenging to control and required constant attention. It was also crucial to hold one note with scenery and emotion. I believe the acoustics of the concert hall helped convey this beautifully.
If you're interested in this piece, please don't hesitate to contact the composer, Asami Matsui (website). She might even arrange it for other instruments. I'm looking forward to seeing this work performed by many others.
In the program that day, we also performed another piece, "Tea for Two". We had played this a year ago with a bass added to the ensemble, but a different arrangement changes the flow of the performance. This time, we managed the improvisation and interplay between just the two of us. Thanks to Asami's guidance, I was able to handle the clarinet solo parts well.
Well, there's not much left of this year. Making music together with wonderful musical companions is the most enjoyable thing of all. The challenges continue as we look towards the coming year.

online clarinet lessons available