Symphony No. IV: Bookmarks from Japan

V. Evening Snow at Kambara

Grade 4
for concert band
by Julie Giroux

Based on the bookmark “Evening Snow at Kambara” by Hiroshige Ando from the print series “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Highway.”

PROGRAM NOTES

Hiroshige Ando (1797-1858) traveled the Tokaido from Edo to Kyoto in 1832. The official party he was traveling with was transporting horses which were gifts to be offered to the imperial court. The journey greatly inspired Hiroshige for he sketched many of its scenes during his journey’s round trip. In all, Hiroshige produced 55 prints for the series “The Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Highway.” Fifty-three of the prints represent the 53 post stations along the way. The additional two prints are of the starting and ending points. The post stations offered food, lodging and stables for travelers of the Tokaido Highway. “Evening Snow at Kambara” was the 15th station Hiroshige visited.
A song in structure, this piece sings of the soft and slow process of spiritual healing whose soft touch is not unlike that of falling snow. The piece starts with solo piano, harp and alto flute. The melody is simple, yet haunting, and grows with the slow addition of players. The piece ends with the same three soloists it began with. It is a song in structure, a song representing the soft touch of healing.

MP 99111
Duration: 3:50
Score & Parts: $55.00
Score only: $15.00

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”