Event Title

A Breeze Around Ruins: Uebayashi’s Poetic Work for Solo Flute

Performer / Ensemble

Erin K. Murphy (Flute )

Streaming Media

Date of Publication

3-26-2021

Document Type

Concert

Abstract / Program Notes

Japanese composer Yuko Uebayashi (b. 1958) wrote her solo flute piece Le Vent á Travers Les Ruines in 1998 and dedicated it to Nobutaka Shimizu, former principal flutist of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra who premiered this work. The imagery-based title translates as “a breeze around ruins”, which is meant to depict the ruins of a monastery coupled with Uebayashi’s emotional reaction while there. At the premier, the composer included the following poetic program note: No one questions why the monastery became a ruin. There may have been someone standing at the remains of the monastery or a cow walking by from somewhere, but no one asks the question why. Clouds move ever so slowly, butterflies fly, and sparking fluff dance in the sunlight. After many years, there still remain reddish brown stone. They just sit there. And the earth exists as if to embrace all matters, while nature repeats her cycle. A breeze floats by. Yes, I have become the wind that breezes through these ruins. I do not ask questions, and everything looks so gentle and glowing… Uebayashi’s distinctive compositional style combines French impressionistic and Japanese film music. She is known to write pieces for musicians she feels a connection to, and her works are often inspired by landscapes, light, and paintings.

Biography

Erin K. Murphy frequently performs with orchestras, in chamber music collaborations, and as a soloist throughout the U.S. and abroad. Dr. Murphy holds degrees in flute performance from the University of Wisconsin-Madison (DMA), Northwestern University (MM), and the University of Michigan (BM). In addition, she earned a performance certificate while studying in Kent, England at Trevor Wye’s international flute studio. Erin has performed as a soloist with the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra, Oklahoma State University Symphony Orchestra, Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra, Ravenswood Community Orchestra, and Whitewater Chamber Players. Recent orchestral performances include those with the Kansas City Symphony, Oklahoma City Philharmonic, and Symphony of Southeast Texas. Her performances have been featured at conferences including CMS South Central, Music by Women Festival, Clarinet Colloquium at TAMUC, FNMC New Music Festival, NACWPI, Women Composers Festival of Hartford, and several NFA Conventions. She is a founding member and flutist of Lakeshore Rush, a Pierrot plus percussion ensemble that collaborates with composers and performs contemporary works. Her album Day & Night: Modern Flute & Piano Duos by Women Composers was released in August 2020 on Albany Records. Dr. Murphy joined the faculty at Oklahoma State University as the Assistant Professor of Music – Flute in 2018. She held previous teaching appointments at Lamar University, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Maranatha Baptist University. Her articles have been published in The Flutist Quarterly, Journal of the International Alliance for Women in Music, FQ Plus, Flute Talk, BandDirectorsTalkShop.com, and Chicago Flute Club’s Pipeline. www.erinkmurphyflute.com

Keywords

Flute, Yuko Uebayashi

Description

10-minute showcase performance

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A Breeze Around Ruins: Uebayashi’s Poetic Work for Solo Flute

Japanese composer Yuko Uebayashi (b. 1958) wrote her solo flute piece Le Vent á Travers Les Ruines in 1998 and dedicated it to Nobutaka Shimizu, former principal flutist of the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra who premiered this work. The imagery-based title translates as “a breeze around ruins”, which is meant to depict the ruins of a monastery coupled with Uebayashi’s emotional reaction while there. At the premier, the composer included the following poetic program note: No one questions why the monastery became a ruin. There may have been someone standing at the remains of the monastery or a cow walking by from somewhere, but no one asks the question why. Clouds move ever so slowly, butterflies fly, and sparking fluff dance in the sunlight. After many years, there still remain reddish brown stone. They just sit there. And the earth exists as if to embrace all matters, while nature repeats her cycle. A breeze floats by. Yes, I have become the wind that breezes through these ruins. I do not ask questions, and everything looks so gentle and glowing… Uebayashi’s distinctive compositional style combines French impressionistic and Japanese film music. She is known to write pieces for musicians she feels a connection to, and her works are often inspired by landscapes, light, and paintings.