A new orchestral piece that captures the individuality and creativity of each student
On 9 August 2021, the ‘Kawasaki Suite’ was given its world premiere at the Festa Summer MUZA KAWASAKI 2021 Finale Concert. We are delighted to be able to share this recording from the concert of the new music being performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
The 'Kawasaki Suite' was created through the 'Kawasaki ♪ Drake Music Project', a collaboration between Kawasaki City, the British Council and UK arts organisation Drake Music. Over a two-month period from May to July 2021, 27 students and 18 teachers from three special educational needs schools in Kawasaki City, together with 13 Japanese and UK musicians, held 20 workshops to create this new piece. The piece is a collection of rhythms, melodies and sounds created by the students and captures not only their individuality and creativity, but also the atmosphere of the workshops.
We hope the music created by the students will show the power of music as a means of self-expression, and the importance of supporting access to music, so everyone has the opportunity to explore their creativity through music.
Read more on how the 'Kawasaki Suite' was created on the project page.
Kawasaki Suite (2021)
1. Fushigi na poketto (The Magical Pocket)
2. Egao ni nareru bansou (Music that Makes Us Smile)
3. Mizuiro no sumairu (Sky Blue Smile)
4. Kiirotoridori (Yellow and Various Colours)
Composed by Ben Sellers based on original music from Kawasaki♪Drake Music Ensemble Project participants
(School 1) Tajimashien Gakko Sakurako
Students: Tsubasa Fukuda and 4 others
Teachers: Asaki Hatakeyama, Daisuke Matsui, Mayumi Nobuoka, Yuko Shinmyozu
(School 2) Tajimashien Gakko Honko-1
Students: Kousei Ishiguri, Junpei Maruyama, Aya Masubuchi, Shumon Matsushima, Taisei Nishijima, Yuumi Takabayashi, Yuito Yagi
Teachers: Hisayo Iimoto, Ryo Ishii, Hitomi Sato, Shotaro Watanabe
(School 2) Tajimashien Gakko Honko-2
Students: Ryota Furuichi, Seiya Kimura, Ryo Takada, Soma Yamane, Mae Yoshikawa and 1 other
Teachers: Hiroki Murakami, Masanori Nishiumi, Masako Saito and 1 other
(School 3) Chuoshien Gakko
Students: Miku Kasajima, Kouki Kawasumi, Taiki Kobayashi, Mizusa Matunaga, Saki Matuzawa, Koujiro Muto, Tokinoshin Ono, Miu Sugeta and 1 other
Teachers: Mami Harada, Sanae Inoue, Junichi Nagashima and 3 others
Musicians
Yoshio Hamano, Hiroko Ikeno, Yoshihide Miyanoya, Yuki Nanjo, Akiko Omatsu, Kunihiro Takeda
Tokyo Symphony Orchestra: Chizu Hisamatsu, Yoshiyuki Kanie, Fuko Nakamura, Yoshimi Niizawa, Koji Suzuki, Chihiro Tai
Concert footage
Festa Summer Muza KAWASAKI 2021 Tokyo Symphony Orchestra Finale Concert
Hosts: Kawasaki City, MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall (Kawasaki - City Foundation For Cultural Promotion)
Recorded: 9 August 2021
Venue: MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall
Conductor: Keitaro Harada (Associate Conductor of the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra)
Performer: Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Kawasaki ♪ Drake Music Project
Organisers: Kawasaki City, British Council
Special cooperation: Tokyo Symphony Orchestra
Cooperation: MUZA Kawasaki Symphony Hall (Kawasaki - City Foundation For Cultural Promotion)