Events

(Left) Koide Noriko, (Right) Dr. Choki Seiji

Time & Location

February 22, 7 PM
February 23, 5:30 PM
Scandinavia House (New York, NY)

About

Music From Japan (MFJ) will present its Fifth Artist Residency to facilitate dialogue among composers, critics, and music scholars from Japan and the U.S. MFJ will also present two concerts as part of its 45th season: one featuring works by Koide Noriko and the other curated by musicologist Dr. Choki Seiji.

On Saturday, February 22, at 7 PM, The Works of Noriko Koide will feature highlights from the composer’s oeuvre spanning nearly 20 years. The program will include the world premiere of a new MFJ-commissioned piece by Koide as well as two works with koto, a Japanese traditional instrument. All the other pieces will be U.S. premieres. Koide, who works across a variety of musical styles, has been especially influenced by methods of note decoration in Javanese Gamelan. She has been praised by the Goethe Institute for her “high degree of expressivity and individuality.” Click here to view a performance of Koide’s piece Hika Runners High +, which was presented by Music From Japan in 2018. In this piece, apart from their own instruments, the musicians play music boxes with a melody composed by Koide

On Sunday, February 23, at 5:30 PM, Identity, what does it matter? New Generations in Japan, curated by Dr. Choki, showcases works by six composers. All the pieces have been composed in the last seven years, and are U.S. premieres. A new MFJ-commissioned piece written by Komiya Chiku will receive its world premiere. This concert will be preceded by a lecture by Dr. Choki at 5pm.

Both concerts will be followed by panel discussions and Q&A sessions with U.S. and Japanese composers, critics, musicologists, and performers.

This event is supported through the Grant Program for Dispatching Artists and Cultural Specialists.

For more information, please click here.

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