Arranged by: Kazuhito Yamashita
Model: 4539442058509
Instrumentation: Guitar
45 pages
Publisher: Edition Gendai Guitar
Pictures at an Exhibition: Promenade/Gnomus/Promenade/I1 vecchio castello/Promenade/The Tuileries/Bydlo/Promenade/Ballet of the Little Chickens/Samuel Goldenberg und Schmuyle/A Market Place in Limoges/Catacombae (Sepulcrum romanum，Con mortuis in lingua mortua)/The Hut of Baba-Yaga/The Bohatyr Gate of Kiev
Explanation for Performance
[Kazuhito Yamashita]
Born in Nagasaki in 1961, Kazuhito Yamashita began studying the guitar at age 8 and under the continuing supervision of his father Toru and also the composer Kojiro Kobune.
He won the Tokyo International Guitar Competition (1976) at the age of 15 years and consecutively won historic laurels as the youngest winner, at 16, in the world’s top competitions (1977), the Ramirez Guitar Concours (Spain), the Alessandria Guitar Competition (Italy), the Paris International Guitar Competition.
He has released 78 titles, CD and LP. In 1980, Yamashita launched, to critical acclaim and worldwide sales, his landmark arrangement of 'Pictures at an Exhibition'. This was rapidly followed a several orchestral pieces arranged for the guitar and attracting considerable attention, such as 'Firebird' and 'Scheherazade' and, more recently, the 'New World Symphony' (Symphony No.9 from the New World). In addition, he released an acclaimed collection of guitar pieces including 5 CDs of the J.S Bach sonatas and partitas for violin, cello, lute and flute (BWV 995-1013), transcribed for the guitar by himself, as well as essential works for the guitar such as 16 CDs of the complete Fernando Sor and works by H. Villa-Lobos: 5 Preludes and 12 Etudes as well as M. Castelnuovo-Tedesco's '24 Caprichos de Goya'.
His worldwide appearances include recitals at the Vienna Musikverein ‘Great Hall’ and New York’s Lincoln Center. He has collaborated under such eminent conductors such as Leonard Slatkin and Rafael Fr hbeck de Burgos, and with numerous performers such as jazz guitarist Larry Coryell, James Galway (flute), Gary Karr (double bass) and the Tokyo String Quartet. From 2004, there were new directions with his children, in the ‘Yamashita Family Guitar Quartet/Quintet,’ and duos, performed worldwide, with his daughters Koyumi and Kanahi.
Yamashita is an enthusiastic proponent of new works for the guitar and has given the world premier of over 60 new compositions from both Japan and overseas. In 1999, he received the National Arts Festival Grand Prize from the Japanese Government's Agency for Cultural Affairs for his CD recording of Japanese Guitar Music 1923-1948.
English Translation. John C. Maher
[Author’s Comment]
The guitar is a superlative instrument, concealing the incalculable potential of expressive power. I am happy to have been given the opportunity to share its company and enrich my own life. This instrument can be instilled, in one’s grasp, with the emotion of musical creation.
We have been told of the wonder of the guitar from long ago. In our era, this has been confirmed with the appearance of the maestro Andre Segovia and the rapid emergence of other important figures in the expanding world of the guitar. In the present day, music for the guitar spans Renaissance to modern and its value is now recognized not only in solo work but concerto, chamber music, duo, in the role of accompaniment and ensemble. The problem of a paucity of contemporary music for the guitar, is gradually being addressed by an emerging number of pieces by contemporary composers and outstanding arrangements of older pieces expanding the potential for performance. In addition, larger works as well as small pieces are now emerging. The guitar is, indeed, I am convinced, becoming a fundamental part of the world of classical music.
In this respect, I have long been convinced, from an early age to the present, of the guitar’s even greater expressive potential. That is to say, I have endeavored to view the instrument as a means of dynamic and symphonic expressiveness, a contemporary sensibility and offering also, as a solo instrument, unparalleled richness. All this leads me to the inescapable conviction that such music approaches the very essence of art and a strong desire to be part of its creation.
Thus, from these thoughts emerges such a conception and led me to the great Russian composer M. P. Mussorgsky’s signature work the piano suite ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ and to play the entire piece, a world first, on the guitar.
The idea occurred to me two years ago, in spring, and I decided to embark seriously on my first challenge; a piece arranged by myself and I made strenuous effort. It was an extremely attractive piece of music and it made me commit further to the lifelong task of arrangement. Needless to say, being an immature arranger, I stumbled in the process; many different experiences I cannot put into words. Also, the decision to go public with this piece was not easy. I consulted my teacher (father) and the composer-conductor Kojiro Kobune. From them I received invaluable advice. Other people helped on the road to publication. Finally, it was done. From that point, I was able to accomplish many recitals and recordings and then came my first publication of sheet music. I am truly grateful.
