It has been seven years since I first came into contact with Koyama's work. At the time, his music was performed in the context of works by various composers, and modernity was emphasized, but when I listened to it again at his first solo exhibition on December 12th, I was surprised to find that it was actually filled with lyricism. This exhibition mainly featured solo pieces, and the only accompaniment was the song set to a poem by Nakahara Chuya, and perhaps this accentuated the melodic quality of the music.
The program started with piano, followed by clarinet, soprano, flute, euphonium, and ended with marimba. All of the pieces had relatively clear melodies and a certain degree of tonality. The songs, such as those set to poems by Nakahara Chuya, were almost romantic.
A composer's solo exhibition is a small event, maybe three or four times in a lifetime, but there is no need to be so shy. Continuing to hold such concerts every year will eventually lead to recognition.
Moreover, such solo exhibitions inevitably have a gala concert-like aspect from the performers' point of view. It would be worth considering planning a series of such solo exhibitions, each of which would include a recital by each performer, and linking them organically in order to create a synergistic effect.
Koyama says, "I don't like to form cliques," but this is not about forming cliques, it's purely a marketing thing. If they don't hold concerts with such organic connections on a regular basis, the allergy of Japanese audiences to contemporary music will not be cured.
In that sense, I really hope that Koyama will do his best.
(Natsuhiko Sakimura)
Kazuhiko Koyama Art Exhibition
April 1996, 12
Izumi Hall
(Tokyo: Nishi-Kokubunji)
Improvisations for Piano 1989 (revised 1992)
Piano Kazuhiko Koyama"Kani" for solo clarinet in B 1996 (premiere)
Clarinet Takashi YamaneSongs based on poems by Nakahara Chuya "Shinsho" I II 1994
Soprano Fumiko Ukai Piano Kazuhiko Koyamabreak
"Flight" for solo flute 1996
Flute Hidehiko Watase"Tatamite" for solo euphonium 1995
Euphonium Sotaro FukaishiDivertimento for Marimba 1996 (Premiere)
Marimba Katsuko Kishida