Score
I. La Sinfonia (4:45)
II. Une Poeta (8:00)
III. La Vita (6:30)
Piccolo (doubling Flute 3)
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2 (doubling English Horn)
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Eb Clarinet
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Eb Alto Clarinet
Bb Bass Clarinet
Bb Contra-alto Clarinet
Bb Soprano Saxophone
Eb Alto Saxophone 1
Eb Alto Saxophone 2
Bb Tenor Saxophone
Eb Baritone Saxophone
Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
F Horn 1
F Horn 2
F Horn 3
F Horn 4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium (div)
Tuba (div)
String Bass (div.)
Timpani
[Percussion] Snare Drum, Bass Drum, 3 Tom - toms, Crash Cymbals, 2 Suspended Cymbals, Antique Cymbal, Tam-Tam, Rachet, 2 Triangle,Tambourine, Wind Chime, Tree Chime
[Mallets] Glockenspiel, Xylophone, Vibraphone, Marimba, Chimes
Commissioned by the National Cultural Festival in Oita.
1st & 2nd Mvmt: The first movement features a traditional symphonic development of two themes, the second movement opens and closes with tasteful percussion section writing, and features warm brass and lyrical woodwind lines.
3rd Movement: The third movement features a Japanese folk-inspired theme that builds to a dramatic climax.
In the past few years, Ito has been writing vocal music, becoming aware of the beauty of the Japanese language. He thought of applying this to band music, and this piece was born. What is a Symphony? What is contemporary music? What is the difference between popular music and serious music? This work is his answer to all these questions. La Sinfonia means The Symphony. Una Poeta, quoted from his own vocal music, is "A Poet". La Vita has a different nuance from the English word "the Life". What the music expresses is, as Arthur Rimbaud says, "Ma vie etait le festin." (My life was a feast)
La Vita is a serious three movement work that features every member of the ensemble. The first movement features a traditional symphonic development of two themes, the second movement opens and closes with tasteful percussion section writing, and features warm brass and lyrical woodwind lines. The third movement features a Japanese folk-inspired theme that builds to a dramatic climax. An excellent centerpiece to a serious program.
