I think opportunities to hear live instrumental music in everyday life are rare.
When I was in middle and high school, I sometimes heard the school band perform after school or at school events. But now that I’m an adult, I feel that opportunities to hear an ensemble have become much less frequent.
One day, I was told that the Kurashiki Music Festival would feature a concert by the Kurashiki Orchestra. Apparently, the performers are local residents.
It had been a long time since I’d felt so close to a classical music concert. I went to find out what it would be like.
The information provided was current when this article was published in March 2024. Please note that it may differ from current information.
What is the Kurashiki Orchestra Concert?
The Kurashiki Orchestra Concert is one of the events in the 38th Kurashiki Music Festival, and will be held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 (a national holiday).
The Kurashiki Orchestra, which will perform, is a community orchestra established in 1974. It has continued its community-based activities and will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.
The first half of the concert will feature approachable classical favorites, including “Orpheus in the Underworld,” often used as background music at sports days, and “Samson and Delilah,” a well-known choice for the free-choice piece at wind band competitions.
The second half is a musical story based on the acclaimed book “Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window” by Kuroyanagi Tetsuko. The program lets you enjoy the story of “Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window” through narration as well as music.
The concert will take place in the hall at Kurashiki Civic Hall. Doors open at 2 p.m., and the performance begins at 3 p.m.
Tickets cost 1,000 yen for adults and 500 yen for university students and younger, but up to 500 elementary and middle school students from Kurashiki City can attend for free.
See the image below for details.
With familiar favorites and a musical story, the program seems approachable and enjoyable for everyone.
I interviewed Yayoi Nishijima, the Kurashiki Orchestra’s public relations representative, about the highlights of this concert.
Interview
Could you tell us about the Kurashiki Orchestra?
Nishijima (surname only)
The Kurashiki Orchestra is a community orchestra established in 1974, with the motto, “High-quality performances with beautiful tones and good ensemble playing.”
Our main activities are an annual regular concert and our appearance at this Kurashiki Music Festival. We have continued our community-based activities and will celebrate our 50th anniversary this year (2024).
We currently have 91 members. Some played in school bands or studied at music universities, while others started playing as adults. Our members range in age from their 20s to their 70s.
We sometimes receive instruction from conductors who perform with professional orchestras, and we practice to bring audiences the music of a full-fledged orchestra.
Having performed in the community for 50 years, we have also built strong connections with music professionals who have ties to Kurashiki.
We put on concerts by bringing together the many connections we have in the community.
How do you choose the music?
Nishijima
The orchestra has a music selection committee. We choose pieces with the trends of the times in mind, as well as what the orchestra wants to share with everyone. We often choose familiar pieces that people may have heard before.
At our previous concert, for example, we performed music from Studio Ghibli films.
More than 1,400 people came, and from the stage the audience looked almost full.
We also invited elementary and middle school students for free that time, so many people came with their children.
I think it will be a concert that families can leave feeling uplifted.
What is the musical story “Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window” about?
Nishijima
A musical story uses music to express the characters’ feelings and actions, while a narrator delivers selected passages with vivid narration alongside the performance.
“Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window,” which we will perform this time, is an autobiographical essay about Kuroyanagi Tetsuko’s childhood.
It has been translated into 35 languages and is recognized by Guinness World Records as the most widely published autobiography in the world.
Many memorable characters appear in the story. The one who has stayed with me most is the principal, who kept telling Totto-chan, who couldn’t fit in at elementary school, “You’re really a good girl.”
It’s deeply unhappy for anyone not to be accepted for who they are.
But I believe everyone can be happy if we have the kindness to recognize and respect one another’s differences at the root of our relationships.
In today’s uncertain world, I think it is very meaningful for the Kurashiki Orchestra to share this kind of message as an orchestra.
Each member reads the book, interprets it in their own way, and conveys a message to the audience through the music, expressing the characters’ feelings.
We hope you’ll enjoy the many different tones.
I think you’ll be able to picture the scenes in the story more vividly and enjoy it even more if you read the book beforehand.
Who would you recommend this to?
Nishijima
I’d love people of all ages to come.
In particular, people may experience “Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window” differently depending on the era and generation they grew up in, and may discover something new. I think it would be even more enjoyable for families to talk about their impressions together.
There aren’t many opportunities to hear a live orchestra, so I hope you’ll enjoy the feel of each instrument’s sound.
Do you have a message for our readers?
Nishijima
This concert is enjoyable for everyone from children to adults, so I hope families will come along.
Please feel free to join us.
This year (2024) marks our 50th anniversary, so we’re also planning a grand regular concert in August. The concert will feature Tomoharu Ushida, a pianist with ties to Kurashiki.
In November, we’re also planning a collaboration concert featuring dance and an orchestra in partnership with Toyota.
Check out the Kurashiki Orchestra website for program details.
We hope you’ll also come to these special concerts taking place this year.
From the Writer
I rarely listen to classical music in my everyday life, and this was the first time I’d learned about orchestras in detail through an interview.
What particularly stood out to me was the difference between a wind band and an orchestra.
Wind bands are made up mostly of wind and percussion instruments, whereas orchestras also include string instruments.
I learned that orchestras adjust the number of performers according to the instruments and parts specified in the score, and perform in a way that makes the most of each instrument’s sound.
I thought this concert would be the perfect opportunity to experience the sound of each instrument.
Come and enjoy live classical music and the world of “Totto-chan: The Little Girl at the Window” with your family.
38th Kurashiki Music Festival: Kurashiki Orchestra Concert Information
| Name | 38th Kurashiki Music Festival: Kurashiki Orchestra Concert |
|---|---|
| Date | Wednesday, March 20, 2024 Doors open: 2 p.m. Performance begins: 3 p.m. |
| Location | 17-1 Honmachi, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture 710-0054 |
| Admission (tax included) | Adults: 1,000 yen University students and younger: 500 yen Up to 500 elementary and middle school students from Kurashiki City can attend for free. *Advance application required |
| Website | Kurashiki Orchestra: 38th Kurashiki Music Festival Kurashiki Orchestra Concert |
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