DAI FUJIKURA
Dai Fujikura was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1977. Since coming to London at the age of 15, he has studied at Trinity College of Music with Daryl Runswick, the Royal College of Music with Edwin Roxburgh, supported by the PRS, and King's College London with George Benjamin.
Fujikura gained international recognition by winning a number of prestigious prizes: First Prize in the Serocki International Composers'Competition (1998); the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival Young Composers'Award (1998); the Royal Philharmonic Society's Composition Prize (2004); Internationaler Wiener Composition Prize (the Claudio Abbado Composition Award) (2005); the Schleswig-Holstein Music Festival's Paul Hindemith Prize (2007) and, most recently, Special Prize from the Giga-Hertz-Award 2008.
In 2005, "Vast Ocean" for trombone, orchestra and live electronics, was performed by the Hilversum Radio Orchestra and Experimentalstudio Heinrich-Strobel-Stiftung, in the Donaueschingen Music Days festival, conducted by Peter Eötvös. In the same year, "Stream State" for orchestra, was commissioned and performed in Lucerne Festival, conducted by Pierre Boulez. This work immediately had further performances in Germany, Austria, Italy and Japan during 2006.
Fujikura made his BBC Proms debut with "Crushing Twister", August 2006, a BBC commission for the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Charles Hazlewood. In the same year, his music was performed at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's "Music Now" series.
Many of the world's leading contemporary ensembles and orchestras have commissioned and performed Fujikura's works including Ensemble Modern, The Asko/Schönberg Ensemble, London Sinfonietta, Nieuw Ensemble, Ensemble Recherche, Klangforum Wien, OKEANOS, Ensemble Intercontemporain, I.C.E., BIT20, Vienna Radio Orchestra, BBC Symphony Orchestra, The Philharmonia, New Japan Philharmonic, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.
2007 saw commissions from the Ensemble Intercontemporain ("time unlocked") for the occasion of the ensemble's 30th anniversary, and an orchestral work with electronics, "swarming essence", a joint commission between the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and IRCAM.
In 2008 April, one of Fujikura's largest works to date, "...as I am..." for mezzo soprano and large ensemble was premiered by Ensemble Intercontemporain and Lore Lixenberg, conducted by Susanna Mälkki in Cite de la Musique.
MFuture commissions include a piano concerto for Noriko Ogawa and the Philharmonia Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Brabbins (co-commissioned by Nagoya Philharmonic, Thierry Fischer - conductor), an orchestral work for the Yomiuri Symphony Orchestra, and several chamber works: a string quartet for Arditti String Quartet (commissioned by the Wigmore Hall), an ensemble work for Art Respirant, a recorder concerto for Jeremias Schwarzer, a Double Bass Concerto for the London Sinfonietta, an ensemble work for I.C.E., a solo piano work for Sunwook Kim (BBC commission), a work for solo Viola and electronics with IRCAM, a piece for Wind trio (musikfabrik) and electronics (Experimentalstudio Freiburg) for Donaueschingen Musik Tage, and projects with David Sylvian
PERFORMANCES
| MONTH | DAY | PERFORMANCE | VENUE |
| January | 7 | "Clari4nics" for clarinet quartet | Purcell Room, Southbank Centre London Perf by Clariphonics |
| 15 | "flux" for viola | St Paul's Hall, Huddersfield Perf by Bridget Carey | |
| 28 | "Poison Mushroom" for flute and electronics | Eastern Michigan University School of Music Perf by Eric Lamb | |
| 29 | "Vanishing Point" for ensemble* | Muziekgebouw aan't IJ, Amsterdam Perf by Asko/Schönberg Ensemble, Cond. Reinbert de Leeuw | |
| February | 3 | "Ampere – concerto for piano and orchestra" ** | QEH. London Perf Philharmonia Orchestra, Noriko Ogawa (soloist), cond. Martyn Brabbins |
| 5 | "secret forest" for ensemble | Izumi Hall, Osaka, Japan Perf Izumi Sinfonietta, cond Tatsuya Shimono | |
| 20 - 21 | "Ampere" – concerto for piano and orchestra" * | Nagoya, Japan Perf Nagoya Philharmonic, Noriko Ogawa (soloist), cond. Thierry Fischer | |
| 20-22 | "Crushing Twister" for orchestra * | Hyogo, Japan Perf Hyogo Philharmonic, cond. Jean Deroyer | |
| 24 | "moromoro" for piano and electronics with video | Kings Place, London Perf Mary Dullea (Ricordi - Beyond 200 concert) Video by Tomoya Yamaguchi | |
| 28 | "alone, speak" (work in progress ) for rock guitar | Smith's College, Sage Hall USA Perf Dan Lippel (in assoc with ICE) | |
| March | 6 | "Phantom Pulse" for 12 percussion players | Musica Viva, Munich Cond. Rüdiger Bohn |
| 13 | "SAKANA" for tenor saxophone | Salle Mozart au Conservatoire à Rayonnement Departemental d'Aulnay-sous-Bois | |
| 22 | "Broken Shackle" for bass clarinet and accordion | Caen, France Perf Accroche Note | |
| April | 1 | "Frozen Heat" for piano * | Spivey Hall, Atlanta USA Perf Jenny Lin |
| 5 | "Half-Remembered City" for 4 hands piano duo | Waltz-Astoria Café, NYC USA Perf Laura Barger and David Kalhaus | |
| 7 | "Atom" for orchestra ** | Suntory Hall, Japan Perf Yomiuri Nippon Symphony Orchestra Cond. Tatsuya Shimono | |
| 7 | "Half-Remembered City" for 4 hands piano duo | Bechstein Piano Centre, NYC USA Perf Laura Barger and David Kalhaus | |
| May | 7 | "Frozen Heat" for piano * | Stranthmore Mansion Series, MD USA Perf Jenny Lin |
| 8 | "Frozen Heat" for piano * | An Die Musik, Baltimore MD USA Perf Jenny Lin | |
| June | 1 | "secret forest" for ensemble NHK Symphony Orchestra Cond. Jonathan Nott |
Tokyo Opera City, Japan |
| 5 | "New Work" for solo** Perf. by Bruce Nockles (association with Endymion Ensemble) |
Kings Place, London, UK | |
| 17 | "New Work" for viola and electronics ** | Agora Festival, Auditorium du Musee d'Orsay, Ircam computer designer: Manuel Poletti Paris Perf Odile Auboin | |
| August | 25 | "Touch of Breeze" |
Dartington, UK |
| 31 | moromoro" for piano and electonics with video (video by Tomoya Yamaguchi) performed by Mary Dullea |
Dublin, Ireland | |
| September | 17 | "But, I Fly" for 12 voices performed by Vox Humana conducted by Ryuta Nishikawa |
Tokyo Bunka-kaikan, Japan |
| October | 3 | "secret forest" for ensemble ** | (European) Festival Musica, Strasbourg Perf Ensemble InterContemporain Cond. Susanna Mälkki |
| tbc | "New Work" for oboe, clarinet, bassoon Donaueschingen Musik Tage and electronics ** | Experimentalstudio Freiburg computer music designer Perf musikfrabrik |
** World premiere *Territorial premiere
WORKS
ORCHESTRA
Ampere (2008) 22'
Solo piano & symphony orchestra
Commissioned by the Philharmonia Orchestra, UK & Nagoya Philharmonic
premiered by the Philharmonia, Noriko Ogawa (piano), conducted by Martyn Brabbins, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London 03.02.09
Crushing Twister (2006) 8'
2222 / 4320 / 3 perc. / strings
Commissioned by the BBC and premiered by the BBC Concert Orchestra, conducted by Charles Hazelwood at the BBC Proms, Royal Albert Hall, London, 28.08.06
Secret Forest (2008) 13'
1,1,1,1/2,1,1,0/ str: 4221
Commissioned by Kioi Hall and Izumi Hall, Tokyo
Premiered Kioi Hall, Tokyo, 05.11.08
Swarming Essence (2007) 16'
2232 / 4220 / 4perc / strings and electronics
commissioned by Radio France and IRCAM
premiered by Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France + IRCAM (Manuel Poletti)
conducted by Reinbert de Leeuw, Paris 09.06.07
Stream State (2005) 12'
3332 / 4331 / harp. pf. 3 perc. / strings
Commissioned by the Lucerne Festival, premiered by the Lucerne Festival Academy Orchestra, conducted by Pierre Boulez, Lucerne, 09.09.05
Vast Ocean (2005) 20'
Solo trombone + 2222 / 2200 / pf. 2 perc. / strings with live electronics
Commissioned by SWR for Donaueschinger Musiktage, premiered by the Hilversum Radio Orchestra and Experimentalstudio Heinrich-Strobel-Stiftung, conducted by Peter Eötvös at Donaueschinger Musiktage, Germany, 15.10.05
ENSEMBLE / CHAMBER
abandoned time (2004 rev. 2006)
solo electric guitar + fl. cl. / pf. perc. / vln. vla. vc. db.
Commissioned by Kanazawa arts foundation for Ensemble Nomad
Premiered by Ensemble Nomad, conducted by Hiroaki Takaha, Yokohama, Japan, 2004.
Revised version premiered by I.C.E., conducted by Rei Hotoda, Chicago, USA, May 2006.
Another Place (2005) 10'
string quartet
Royal Philharmonic Society Composition Prize commission, premiered by the Maggini Quartet, Cheltenham Music Festival, UK, 15.07.05
Be II (2005) 12'
percussion quartet (Developed from the solo percussion work Be)
Premiered by Slagwerkgroep Den Haag, Gaudeamus Music Week, Netherlands, 04.09.06
Blue Sky Falling (2001) 9'
afl. cl. / tpt. / vc. / db. / live electronics
Commissioned and premiered by the London Sinfonietta, conducted by Martyn Brabbins, QEH, London, 27.04.01
Breathless (2004) 1'
vln. toy piano
Premiered by I.C.E. Chicago, May 2004
Broken Shackle (2001) 8'
bcl. accordion
Commissioned and premiered by Muta, Japan Festival 2000/01, London, Winter 2001
Clari4nics (2000) 10'
2 cl. 2 bcl.
Co-Commissioned by South East Music Schemes, the Chinook Clarinet Quartet and St. Mary-in-the-castle. Premiered by the Chinook Clarinet Quartet, UK, Summer 2000
Code 80 (2005) 4'
1 fl./picc. 1 ob. 1 cl. 1 bsn. / 1 horn. 1tpt. 1 trmb. / 2 perc. 1pf. / 2 vln. 1 vla. 1 vc. 1 db.
Commissioned and premiered by the Ensemble InterContemporain for Pierre Boulez's 80th birthday concert, conducted by Jean Deroyer, Paris, 13.02.05
Cutting Sky (2006) 4'
koto. vla
Commissioned and premiered by OKEANOS at City of London Festival, 07.07.06
Deconstructing Franz (2006 rec. 2007) 4'
String quartet inspired by Schubert's string quartet in D minor "Death and the Maiden"
Commissioned by the Wigmore Hall
Premiered San Lorenzo del Escorial, Madrid 14.07.07
Fifth Station (2003-2004) 15'
1 afl. 1 bcl. / 1 tpt. 1 horn. 1 tmb. / 2 vln. 1 vla. 1 vc. 1 db.
Commissioned and premiered by the London Sinfonietta, conducted by Martyn Brabbins, QEH, London, 14.02.04
Frozen Heat for 13 Musicians (1998) 6'
pic. Ssax. Tsax. Bsax. / 1 hn. 3tpt. 2trb. 1 Btrb. / pf. db
Premiered by the Orkest de Volharding, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, UK, November 1998
Locked Voices (2004) 4'
2 hp.
Premiered by Double Action, London, January 2004
Okeanos Breeze (2001) 10'
sho. koto. ob. cl. vla
Commissioned and premiered by OKEANOS, Manchester, 2001
Phantom Pulse (2006) 20'
12 perc.
Commissioned by the Lucerne Festival and performed by the Lucerne Percussion Group, conducted by Michael Cerutti, 11.09.06
Reach Out (2002) 10'
saxophone quartet (sopranino/soprano. soprano/alto. soprano/tenor. soprano/baritone)
Co-Commissioned by the Apollo Saxophone Quartet and the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival. Premiered Huddersfield, UK, November 2002
Time unlocked (2007) 11'
for ob, cl, bn, pf, vln, vla
commissioned and premiered by Ensemble InterContemporain, Paris 05.04.07
Touch of Breeze (2004) 1'
vla. cl. and sho
Commissioned and premiered by OKEANOS, Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival, UK, November 2004
Vanishing Point (2004, revised 2006) 10'
1 fl. 1 ob. 1 cl. 1 bsn. / 1 horn. 1tpt. 1 trmb. / 2 perc. 1pf. 1 hp. / 2 vln. 1vla. 1 vc. 1 db.
Commissioned and premiered by Ensemble Modern, conducted by Franck Ollu, Frankfurt, 05.10.04. Revised version premiered by Ensemble InterContemporain, conducted by Jonathan Nott, Paris, 08.06.06
The Voice (2007) 10'
Bn + Vc
Commissioned by Pascal Gallois
Wave Embraced (2006) 18'
solo horn + fl. ob. bcl. bsn. trp. trb. 2perc. pf. 2vln. vla. vc. db.
commissioned by BIT20
Deconstructing Franz (2006 rec. 2007) 4'
String quartet inspired by Schubert's string quartet in D minor "Death and the Maiden"
Commissioned by the Wigmore Hall
Premiered San Lorenzo del Escorial, Madrid 14.07.07
VOCAL WORKS
as I am (2007) 20'
solo voice + large ensemble (text by Harry Ross)
Commissioned by Ensemble InterContemporain, France
Premiere: April 2008, Ensemble InterContemporain, cond. Susanna Malkki, Lore Lixenburg (mezzo), Cite de la Musique, Paris
But, I fly (2005) 10'
12 voices (3333) (text by Harry Ross)
Commissioned and premiered by Vox Humana, Tokyo Bunka-Kaikan, 20.11.05
Lake Side (2008) 3'
Sop. mezzo-sop. (text by Harry Ross)
Commissioned by NMC
Still Sweet (1998) 6'
mezzo-sop. vla, afl
Premiered by Ksenia Jones (mezzo soprano), Aroa Garcia Sanchez (viola),
Leora Alexander (alto Flute), London, 1998
Still Sweet II (1998 revised 2006) 6'
mezzo-sop. vla, afl (new version - text: Harry Ross
WORKS WITH VIDEO
Moromoro (2003) 8'
piano, tape and video (optional: video by Tomoya Yamaguchi)
Commissioned and premiered by Tomoko Mukaiyama, Logos Festival, Netherlands, 27.01.04
Teki (2003) 8'
piano and video (video by Tomoya Yamaguchi)
Premiered by Sarah Nicolls, London, 20.03.03
SOLO WORKS
Be (2004) 14'
solo percussion
Joint commission: BBC Radio 3 and the Royal Philharmonic Society
Premiered by Colin Curry, Spitalfields Festival, London, Summer 2004
Eternal Escape (2001 rev. 2006) 5'
vc.
Commissioned by John Woolrich
Premiered by Adrian Bradbury, Hoxton Music Festival, Summer 2001
Flux (2007) 5'
Vla
Premiered UdK Berlin by Jessica Rona 08.01.08
Hibiki in the line (2000) 5'
cl. (sax)
..only.. (2001) 5'
harp
Premiered by Kate Smith, Summer 2001
Moment (2007) 1'
Vc
Premiered Paris 2007
Perla (2003) 4'
solo bass recorder
Premiered by Rachel Barnes, Winter 2003
Rubi(co)n (2006) 1'
100 notes for clarinet or bass clarinet
Premiered by Joshua Rubin, New York, Spring 2006
SAKANA (2007) 9'
tenor saxophone
Commissioned by Tokyo City Opera & NONAKA
Premiered by Masanori Oishi, Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall, 18.03.08
WORKS FOR PIANO
Echo Within (2001) 6'
pf.
Premiered by Atsuko Niki, Wigmore hall, Spring 2001
Half-Remembered City (2002) 10'
pf. 4 hands
Commissioned and premiered by Waka Hasegawa and Joseph Tong, with funds from the PRS Foundation, Tokyo, Summer 2002
Lost Shadows (2000) 10'
pf.
Commissioned by the Park Lane Group, premiered by Yukiko Shinohara, London, 12.01.2001
Piano Studies 1-3:
1) Frozen Heat (1998) 6'
Premiered by Jane Trainer, London, Summer 1998
2) Deepened Arc (1998) 6'
Premiered by Veselin Stambolov, Ppianissimo Bulgaria, Spring 2001
3) Subito Disperato (2000) 6'
Premiered by Louise King, London, Summer 2000
Returning (2006) 4'
pf.
Commissioned and premiered by Noriko Ogawa at the City of London Festival, 30.06.06
Sleeping Ashes (2002) 5'
pf.
Premiered by Ananda Sukarlan, 2003
WORKS WITH ELECTRONICS
Blue Sky Falling (2001) 9'
afl. cl. tpt. vc. db. live electronics (see Ensemble/chamber)
moromoro (2003) 8'
piano, tape and video (optional: video by Tomoya Yamaguchi)
(see Works with video)
Vast Ocean (2005) 20'
solo trombone + 2222, 2200, pf, 2 perc, strings with live electronics (see Orchestral works)
WORKS WITH JAPANESE INSTRUMENTS
Cutting Sky (2006) 4'
koto. vla (see Ensemble/chamber)
Touch of Breeze (2004) 1'
vla. cl. and sho (see Ensemble/chamber)
Okeanos Breeze (2001) 10'
sho. koto. ob. cl. vla (see Ensemble/chamber)
SPECIAL OCCASION
Banitza Groove! (2006, re-composed 2007) 5'
2222 / 2200 / strings
Commissioned by KAJIMOTO Concert Management for New Year Concert series, premiered by Wiener Ring Ensemble in January, Japan.
Revised/orchestration version: commissioned by Manning Camerata, premiered by Manning Camerata conducted by Peter Manning. Florence Hall, Royal Institute of British Architects, London.16.11.07
