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Ritornello with Four Amami Island Songs

Ritornello with Four Amami Island Songs

  • Composer: Koh, Chang-Su
  • Grade: 6
  • Duration: 9:30
  • Genre: Concert Band
  • Publisher: Brain Music
  • Item No: Z-YDOK-C28S


$135.00
Printed set (Score & Parts)
Flute 1
Flute 2 (doub. Piccolo)
Oboe (option)
Bassoon (option)

Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Bass Clarinet

Eb Alto Saxophone
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone

F Horn 1
F Horn 2

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2

Trombone 1
Trombone 2

Euphonium
Tuba
String Bass (option)

Timpani

[Percussion 1]
5 Wood Blocks
Xylophone
Snare Drum
Crash Cymbals
Glockenspiel

[Percussion 2]
Vibraphone
Cabasa
Bass Drum
Suspended Cymbal
Triangle
Hi-hat Cymbal
4 Toms
Crash Cymbals

This piece was originally composed in 2020 for the Osaka Music University Clarinet Orchestra and later re-arranged in 2023 for small wind ensemble. It was my first time encountering Amami Island songs, and while I was deeply fascinated by their unique musical blend, which seems to merge the scales of mainland Japan with the rhythms of Okinawa, I compiled them using Western classical music techniques. As a result, I believe it has turned into a highly hybridized piece of music.

I selected the following four songs from the numerous Amami Island themes:
Asabana: Traditionally the first song sung in Amami's song games, serving as a greeting and vocal warm-up.
Inisuri: Originally a work song depicting the scene of threshing rice, it has lively and joyful imagery.
Chukyaribana: A song with witty lyrics and a cheerful, crisp melody.
Rokuchou: The fastest dance song from Amami Oshima, accompanied by an ecstatic dance, culminating in a festive dispersal.
These four songs are not simply presented in sequence but are structured as follows: "Asabana" - "Inisuri" - "Asabana" - "Chukyaribana" - "Rokuchou," with "Rokuchou" incorporating elements of "Inisuri" and "Chukyaribana" before concluding with "Asabana."(Chang Su Koh)

Performance cut suggestions:?To shorten the performance duration, the following sections can be omitted:
Measures 11 to 25Measures 162 to 172Measures 237 to 304This reduces the performance time to approximately 6 minutes and 30 seconds.

(Chung Su Koh)

World Parts Download