Makoto Nakura, Bach Parallels Review

Classical

Makoto Nakura, Bach Parallels Review

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Makoto Nakura was born in Kobe, Japan, and began to play the marimba at eight. He earned both Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from Musashino College in Tokyo. He continued his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London, from which he was named an Associate. For over a quarter of a century, his performances, vision, artistry, and astonishing virtuosity have captivated audiences. In 1994, Nakura moved from his native Japan to New York City. Nakura was the first marimbist to win first prize in the prestigious Young Concert Artists International Auditions. His critically acclaimed performances worldwide have included venues in London, Paris, Berlin, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Seoul, Montreal, Mexico City, Sao Paulo, and Buenos Aires. He has performed with orchestras such as the New York Chamber Symphony, the Chicago Sinfonietta, and the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra. As a soloist, his list appearances include Carnegie’s Weill Recital Hall and Washington’s Kennedy Center. He has appeared as a guest artist with The Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center and appeared in many chamber music festivals as a chamber musician. A television portrait of Mr. Nakura was shown on CBS News Sunday Morning throughout the United States. Nakura is also a dedicated champion of the music of our time, as he founded the ISGM New Music Commissioning Fund in 2001, numerous solos, concertos, chamber works, and interdisciplinary works have been commissioned from leading composers by the fund for him. Nakura is now releasing an exciting album titled Bach Parallels on the evosound label.

[section label=”Bottom Line”]Bottom Line: Bach Parallels is twelve tracks that feature new works by three different composers with Bach’s works serving as inspiration for each composition. Nakura explains, “For this recording, I created a project to combine the two vessels together. I asked three composers to write pieces inspired by Bach, and I have placed them in a parallel manner with Bach’s works. The first half of the disc is dedicated to variations, beginning with “Passacaglia” and the second half to preludes and fugues.” Philip Lasser’s Bach Echoes for Grand Vibraphone Hybrid Variations on Bach’s A minor Flute Partita BWV 1013 “II. Corrente” is a beautiful display of Nakura’s lyrical vibraphone playing that keeps each line of counterpoint clear and interacting with the ever-shifting figures. The composition has moments that are purely Bach in conception, but some passages expand the Bach vocabulary to a more contemporary sound. Benjamin C.S. Boyle’s Variations on a Bach Chorale for solo marimba Thema: Chorale “Christ ist erstanden, BWV 276 is a collection of variations that shows the many textures and colors Bach still inspires even three-hundred years after the originals where composed. Nakura’s expression through the variations captures each theme’s essence as he shows his mastery of tone, dynamics, voice-leading, and lyrical counterpoint. From “Well-Tempered Clavier: Book II” for two marimbists, “Prelude and Fugue in G Major, BWV 884” features Nakura and marimbists Reiko Kono performing a dazzling reading of this hypnotizing composition. Overall, Bach Parallels is an exciting auditory experience for the virtuosic playing, creative compositions, and a chance to hear the marimba in its many beautiful colors and singing sonorities. That’s the short of it!

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