Symphony No. IV: Bookmarks from Japan

III. The Great Wave off Kanagawa - “The Life of One Wave”

Grade 5
for concert band
by Julie Giroux

Based on the bookmark “The Great Wave off Kanagawa” (lit. “Under a Wave off Kanagawa”) by Hokusai Katsushika which is from Hokusai’s collection “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.”

PROGRAM NOTES

The artwork of Hokusai is well-known and this particular woodblock print, published between 1830 and 1833, is known throughout the world. His series “Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji” is Hokusai’s most famous work. Looking at this stunning print, you can see Mount Fuji in the background. However, the central focus is an enormous wave called an okinami (wave of the open sea), peaked and curling with several Japanese boats in different stages of entering the perilous wave.
In this work, a single wave is depicted from its beginnings far out in the sparkling, sun-drenched seas all the way through its final throes onto a rocky beach. The piece starts in the open sea, fairly calm with sunlight refracting into thousands of tiny points of light. Depicting this are the woodwinds rippling up and down with sixteenth triplet variations. The trombones and French horns enter the mix with a solid melodic statement. The trumpets are added near the end of the phrase, all of which depicts the first shaping of the great wave. This entire section peaks in measure 38 where we get the full rolling motion throughout the entire band. Just looking at the score, you can see the melodic lines and phrases going up and down the staves. From measures 40 to 45 the music winds down, ending with only two instruments playing. This signifies the separation of the wave from the open sea as it begins its final path towards landfall. Measure 45 to the end is its journey, growing in strength and volume to the final moments of this great wave.

MP 99109
Duration: 3:55
Score & Parts: $75.00
Score only: $18.00

I. Fuji-san - “Mt. Fuji”
II. Nihonbashi - “Bridge Market”
III. The Great Wave off Kanagawa “The Life of One Wave”
IV. Kinryu-zan Sensoji “Thunder Gate”
V. Evening Snow at Kambara “Light is the Touch”
VI. Hakone - “Drifting”