Satoshi Yagisawa

The Life of a Samurai

This piece was commissioned by Horikoshi High School Wind Ensemble. The director and conductor of the ensemble, Takashi Yoshizawa, has been a close friend of Satoshi Yagisawa since the inception of the ensemble, and this is the third such commission that the composer has received. The composer was asked to write a piece based on Japanese theme, a rare occurrence among the 120-plus works that Yagisawa has written for wind band. Yoshizawa asked for such a piece as he wished to send out to the world music with Japanese spirit and history. The theme is 'Bushido' (literally translating as 'the way of the warrior'). This fundamentally Japanese code of samurai chivalry has been passed down through the generations, changing with the times. It is sometimes called 'Mo-No-No-Fu'. One of the foremost warriors who embodied this spirit in turbulent times was Toshizou Hijikata (1835-1869). He was a man of powerful faith and was a strong adherent of Bushido in the last great age of the Samurai. He maintained a sense of chivalry even at a risk to his own life. This piece reflects Bushido and Toshizou's own passionate life. Japanese instruments such as Japanese drums and bamboos are used in this work. The composer also designated alternative instruments so that the piece can be widely performed by non-Japanese bands.