The story of this modern-day deaf Japanese composer is an extraordinary one - but Mamoru Samuragochi's Symphony No.1 "Hiroshima"....
http://www.amazon.co.uk/MAMORU-SAMURAGOCHI-SYM-1-HIROSHIMA/dp/B0050NBGAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321726181&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/MAMORU-SAMURAGOCHI-SYM-1-HIROSHIMA/dp/B0050NBGAU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1321726181&sr=8-1)
... is even more extraordinary: a three-movement, 80+ minute edifice ranking, in my mind, with Mahler 9 and Brian's Gothic.
Atsushi has already written (sorry about the repeated thread):
Hello Friends,
Today, I introduce about Symphony by Japanese composer Mamoru Samuragoch
Samuragoch, who was born in Hiroshima at 1963,
He is a self-taught musician. Because he denied contemporary music , so he did not enter University of music.
He suffered migraines since high school, and at age of 35 he completely lost his hearing.
But relying on his absolute pitch, he was able to continue writing music and finished Symphony No. 1 in 2003.
This Symphony was played for the first time at Hiroshima in 2008 , and Tokyo in 2010.
This symphony written is late romantic style and strong influenced by Mahler and Bruckner. (three movements and lasts roughly 80 minutes.)
I attend to first performance at Tokyo in April.2011.
After sounding final chord, many many audience rise from a sitting position and enthusiastic applause continued.
This symphony was released as a CD by Nippon Columbia.
( HMV Japan webpage http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4081378) (http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/4081378))
More information of this composer and symphony is here
http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20110809f3.html (http://www.japantimes.co.jp/text/nn20110809f3.html)
And final movement of this symphony is able to listen on Youtube
Kazuyoshi Akiyama (cond) / Hiroshima Symphony Orchestra / Maybe from first performance at Hiroshima in 2008
Part.1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TQPgVMQ600&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TQPgVMQ600&feature=related)
Part.2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pED5OICGVp0&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pED5OICGVp0&feature=related)
Part.3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6rEeASHo64&feature=related (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M6rEeASHo64&feature=related)
This symphony draws Tragedy of Hiroshima. So music covered with heavy clouds and screaming. (Maybe too heavy to listen in Sunday morning.)
But , Please don't stop listening before start of final part. ( This part called ' Chorale of toward to Heaven ' )
I hope this symphony will performed all around the country
Really?! Will explore some more...
It is certainly a superb piece :)
The comparison with Mahler is entirely fair but I also hear a lot of Bruckner(a composer whose idiom I am more attuned to) in the symphony. There is grandeur and beauty and, ultimately, it is a most moving composition.
A Japanese Bruckner... The world is certainly globalised.
Thanks All :)
Mr.Samuragochi composed 12(!) symphonies until 2000, but He discarded all of them.
He already finished symphony no.2 ( 110minute :o not performed yet)
And he is composing Symphony no.3 now.
It's a good deal more dissonant than Bruckner, but I understand the comparison - say, with his 9th. For me the parallel is more with Mahler, especially symphonies 9 and 10. And some of the climaxes definitely rank with the Gothic...
It's going to take a lot of listening to in order to get my head round the piece, but I have a feeling it's going to be my discovery of 2011...
Perhaps you will keep us informed about possible future performances and recordings of Samuragochi's 2nd and 3rd symphonies, Atsushi?
...the climaxes are nothing like Bruckner or Mahler - we're definitely in 'Gothic' territory: try about 14 and half minutes into the second movement!
I see what you mean ;D
Certainly there is an apocalyptic grandeur which very much appeals to me ;D
We are-I think-agreed that it is a work of real substance, a work of massive integrity and one that should be widely heard :)
Of course, I will post all performance and recording information of Samuragouchi :)
Yes, I think that Brian is a very apt comparison but, my word, what a magnificent work this is. A very moving testament and wholly worthwhile musically.
All in all, I think we owe a massive vote of thanks to Atsushi for introducing us to this absolutely magnificent piece - which kept me up until midnight listening to it again. Wonder what I'll be doing this afternoon...?
Thanks all.
In my impression, This symphony maybe absolutely capture your heart when you listen in concert performance.
Composer himself called this symphony is " Dark symphony ".
In fact, Almost time of this symphony filled with deep darkness.
But I hope this dark ( but, at the same time, this symphony filled with strong hope!) symphony will perform all around world :D
I can imagine that the symphony would make an enormous impression if heard live - rather like a piece such as the 'Gothic' or which makes twice the impression in the concert hall.
The closing pages of the finale are utterly thrilling and uplifting. Wonderful! Thanks again, Atsushi!
Quote from: Alan Howe on Sunday 20 November 2011, 16:52
The closing pages of the finale are utterly thrilling and uplifting. Wonderful! Thanks again, Atsushi!
Having listened to the extracts on YouTube that Atsushi directed us to, I agree entirely with your opinion, Alan. However, I can't find anywhere that seems to stock the CD -- Amazon has it a ridiculous price (over £30). Or am I missing something?
Nope. It's just not available outside the Far East. Anyway, I've stumped up the £30 because I think it's worth it...
:o That seems a very strange decision for the recording company to have made, given that the style of this music will appeal to listeners worldwide, I should have thought. >:(
Atsushi,
I am just listening to the first movement of it. Impressive work! By the first sight/hearing it remindes more than Mahler, I hear it more modern that recalls other and later pieces - will try to concretise my impressions. Of course there are Mahlerian elements but I am quite sure that nobody hearing it without any additional information could attribute it to Mahler, not even mentioning Brucker who, im my mind, remains traditional in the post-Beethovenian style. But I don't feel strong in Bruckner so it's only my personal view.
Let's start with movement 2!
one question to Atsushi. What were the reasons that Samuragouchi has discarded his earlier composed symphonies?
And now writing his no. 2 is he restoring/correcting those previously done?
Sadly, I would imagine that the problem is a marketing one. Nobody in the west has heard of Samuragochi, so a lot of work would have to go into 'selling' him. Not that this should be a problem - after all, his story is so fascinating. But we all know what motivates the 'majors' - big names in familiar repertoire...
I agree, Marek. There are other composers 'in the mix' here - the later Penderecki, Rochberg, Pettersson, maybe...
Thanks all,
Marek, About reason of composer discarded his earlier symphonies.
Composer said, he found new composing method after he lost his hearing.
He is not able to listen all sound , so he necessarily explore sound in his heart.
At that time, he realized that this is " true sound " for him.
And he felt his earlier symphonies are sounding ' Fake '.
Therefore he discarded these.
His symphony no.2 is ' New work '.
Of course , I interested in his earlier symphonies...
But I'm looking forward to listen his new symphonies :)
I would buy it if it wasn't so expensive.
It's well worth the extra cost involved.
I received my copy on the same day as Brian's first. I haven't been able to take the Samuragochi out of the player. I'm on the seventh listening. I keep hearing more each time. I hear Bruckner, Mahler, Shostakovich, Debussy, Ives......
I really need to move on to the Brian
I also want to thank the members of this group for bringing to my attention so many new composers. Now if they would just send a check to cover purchases.
Dan
Quote from: hemmesjo on Wednesday 14 December 2011, 12:22
I received my copy on the same day as Brian's first. I haven't been able to take the Samuragochi out of the player. I'm on the seventh listening. I keep hearing more each time. I hear Bruckner, Mahler, Shostakovich, Debussy, Ives......
I really need to move on to the Brian
I also want to thank the members of this group for bringing to my attention so many new composers. Now if they would just send a check to cover purchases.
Dan
The Battle of the Firsts...
The price of this CD is outrageously high and unfortunately seems to be well worth it. It's no wonder Alan champions this astonishingly powerful and amazingly beautiful work composed in the hope of a nukes-free world. Anyone yet to hear the YouTube extracts should right away!
Samuragochi's Hiroshima Symphony is nothing less than a monumental masterpiece of the highest calibre. It's a very long time ago that music gave me tears in my eyes, but it happened when I started listening to the 3rd movement. It's amazing how Samuragochi translated the horror of the atomic bomb into music. Hats-off!
The music gets right into your heart. Therefore I think £30 (excluding p&p) is for this CD absolutely value for money.
Thanks very much, Atsushi and Alan.
Here's another pertinent review:
Virtually unknown in the western world, Samuragochi has written what will one day be considered among the very best classical works of the 21st century, perhaps of all time. This is not Japanese native music - it is western symphonic music, clearly at some past point strongly related to Mahler, but subliminating Shostakovich, Hovhaness, Havergal Brian and a whole lot of others into a very unique voice. Clearly programmatic, the music presents Hiroshima honestly without a political point of view - as human, tragic, yet hopeful, and the climax comes at a split second and is a devestating flash of light that tonally overwhelms with the complex emotion it portrays.
http://robertmusic.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-best-of-year-joshua-abrams-vinyl.html (http://robertmusic.blogspot.com/2011/10/two-best-of-year-joshua-abrams-vinyl.html)
Ok - I'm convinced. Or, better still, I am crying "uncle!" Can no longer resist, so...
I coughed up the 50 US shekels and ordered via Amazon.
I'll bet it's money well spent.
Yes, I've also not been able to resist temptation here and what with the purchase of the Hyperion recording of Havergal Brian's 'Gothic Symphony' (I was there so how could I not get a copy?) it has been a rather expensive week. So my family will just have to do without Christmas presents. hehehe
I just ordered my copy from Japan...$68-plus dollars, the most expensive in my collection of 2000+ Cds. Sounds wonderful. Back in the day, I was among the very few people to have a reel to reel of the Gothic symphony and Dr. Peter Racine Fricker brought his graduate class in music theory to my home to hear it. I am just getting the new one on Hyperion for Xmas from my wife. I can't wait to get the Samuragochi sometime in January. I hope the others are recorded someday. THANK YOU forbringing this to my attention (arrigato!!!) Mal
I live in the Netherlands and ordered my copy 18 December and received it 22 December. Excellent and quick service from Japan!
The booklet notes look pretty extensive in Japanese, but there is a good summary in English and that turns out to be an interesting article by Seiji Choki about the future of the modern day symphony in general, and of course a commentary on Samuragochi's Hiroshima Symphony. What it also makes so worthwhile reading is the fact that it is discussed from a Japanese point of view.
The symphony is magical. The quality of the CD and presentation in general is state-of-the-art.
Quote from: malito on Saturday 24 December 2011, 04:10
I just ordered my copy from Japan...$68-plus dollars, the most expensive in my collection of 2000+ Cds. Sounds wonderful. Back in the day, I was among the very few people to have a reel to reel of the Gothic symphony and Dr. Peter Racine Fricker brought his graduate class in music theory to my home to hear it. I am just getting the new one on Hyperion for Xmas from my wife. I can't wait to get the Samuragochi sometime in January. I hope the others are recorded someday. THANK YOU forbringing this to my attention (arrigato!!!) Mal
How great that you were in Fricker's class. I have the highest opinion of his Symphony No 2 with its very exciting ending. I am really looking forward to receiving the Samuragochi too.
Quote from: malito on Saturday 24 December 2011, 04:10
I just ordered my copy from Japan...$68-plus dollars, the most expensive in my collection of 2000+ Cds. Sounds wonderful. Back in the day, I was among the very few people to have a reel to reel of the Gothic symphony and Dr. Peter Racine Fricker brought his graduate class in music theory to my home to hear it. I am just getting the new one on Hyperion for Xmas from my wife. I can't wait to get the Samuragochi sometime in January. I hope the others are recorded someday. THANK YOU forbringing this to my attention (arrigato!!!) Mal
How interesting that you knew Peter Racine Fricker :)
You will see that we have quite an extensive collection of Fricker's music on this site, many of the pieces included were recorded by me on reel-to-reel tapes in the 1973-82 period when his music was still being played on BBC Radio(unlike today :().
I too have succumbed and ordered my copy of the CD direct from Japan via Amazon. In view of the praise lavished on this symphony, to pay £30 pounds plus for the CD is worth it. I am looking forward to receiving my copy. I have already been told that the CD is in the post!
Dennis
Further to my previous post, I received my cd from Japan within a week of placing my order. I have since listened to the symphony several times and I get more out of the music each time I listen. The music is very powerful, impressive and moving - a stunning work, well worth the £30 + I paid for the cd.
Cheers
Dennis
I was playing it again, only a few days ago. What a magnificent composition it is, and with a truly cathartic end. I wonder if it can establish itself in the worldwide repertoire? If ever a modern work deserved to, this is it.
In that case there need to be more, and cheaper, recordings. At the available price, Norwegian VAT and processing charges set in, and a disc wil cost me over £ 50, all included. For a single disc, I find that slightly over the top, however good the music.
Has anyone located an English translation of the (extensive) Japanese texts in the Denon booklet? I would like to read more analysis of the work, and the English portions really give little insight.
I'm intregued by the this work and the positive response its received on this board. I haven't yet purchased but I found this on youtube. Without being able to read the text, is this documentary the same work?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLQUd0hDyZ0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLQUd0hDyZ0)
It reminds me of a Mahlerian adagio finale...monumental and noble. I can only imagine what the rest of the work is like and hope to get it soon.
Yes it is the same work. The symphony is subtitled "Hiroshima". There are links on UC that will allow you to listen to a total of 22 minutes of the symphony.
There is good news on the availability -
Amazon has it now as MP3 download for anyone who wants to skip the inflated Import CD price.
http://www.amazon.com/Symphony-No-1-Hiroshima/dp/B00CYW02FK/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1370302217&sr=1-1&keywords=hiroshima (http://www.amazon.com/Symphony-No-1-Hiroshima/dp/B00CYW02FK/ref=sr_1_1?s=dmusic&ie=UTF8&qid=1370302217&sr=1-1&keywords=hiroshima)
BTW. For me this is one of the greatest discoveries this year so far. Something "contemporary" that goes full force with the orchestra in such a post-romantic sense is a rarity these days (Really, who else does it?). Not to mention that this is absolutely deep, profound and captivating music. Beautiful, how the end turns into something positive, one might even feel a sense of forgiveness. The whole thing is a treat for the soul.
Pity this is only for US customers I think, not for Dutchies like me :(
Hrm... there's still one in stock (though at 24 pounds) at UK Amazon, and some available from 3rd parties for 36 Euros at amazon.de ...
Hi,
cdjapan.co.jp has them for ~29 euros incl. shipping to europe... and I am waiting for mine.
Thanks for the suggestion. Seems to be the cheapest option for me!
Dear forum,
after several listenings, I feel rather ambiguous. It IS a monolith of a symphony, not too modern in a positive sense and both a pleasant and mind-blowing experience. But, just listening to Mahler's Fifth and the Albert Dietrich symphony, I think it lacks direction. The big symphonists (say, Haydn, Beethoven, Mahler, Pettersson, only to name a few) add something special that keeps the composition "on track", and that is what I miss here, an underlying "arc of suspense". It is marvellous, though.
But what are your impressions?