Japanese Folk Song Suite "Warabe -Uta"
Bin KANEDA (b.1935)

This suite, which was commissioned in 1962 by the Yamaha Symphonic Band, comprises three movements based on traditional Japanese children's songs.

The first movement, "Antagata Doko Sa" (Where Are You From?), based on a song accompanying a traditional children's ball game, is played by the brass and percussion.  Following a prelude, the horns and trumpets introduce the theme.  After an interlude there is a change of key and the trumpets and trombones restate the theme.  A postlude ends the movement.

The second movement, "Komori-uta" (Lullaby), takes on its theme an old lullaby from the Kanto region of eastern Japan and is played by the woodwinds, string bass, and percussion.  The movement begins with a flute solo to the rhythmic accompaniment of the wood block.  The alto saxophones then introduce the theme.  After an interlude featuring flute and clarinet, the key changes - the oboes, clarinets, and tenor saxophone carry the melody, with the flutes providing an obbligato accompaniment.  Following a flute cadenza, the movement ends quietly.

The third movement, "Yamadera no Osho-san" (An Old Priest in a Mountain Temple), opens with the reverberating tones of the gong, evoking the sound of the bell of a Japanese Buddhist temple.  The tom-tom then sets a lilting rhythm, which woodwinds and muted trumpets pick up as they introduce the playful melody of another children's ball-game song.  The melody is further developed in jazz fashion by the brass and woodwinds.  A postlude closes this light, witty movement.

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