Kenichi Nishizawa - Composer, Pianist
Born in Tokyo in 1978, Kenichi Nishizawa started playing piano at the age of 15, and at the same time he began teaching himself composition. In 1996, he was accepted to the Kunitachi College of Music. However, he left the college after one year. In January 1999, he was awarded both the first prize and the Kodama Prize at the Fifth International Competition of Piano Duo Music Composition. In December of that year, he won the first prize at the Fourth Tokyo International Composition Competition of Chamber Music.
In October 2005, Nishizawa made waves at the 33rd Festival Internacional Cervantino, an annual classical music event. Japan was a special guest at that particular festival as it commemorated the 50th anniversary of the Japan-Mexico Cultural Agreement. His Piano Trio No. 2 was introduced by Japanese violinist Yuriko Kuronuma and others as one of the leading pieces of classical music from Japan, putting it in the company of Ikuma Dan’s opera “Yuzuru.” Nishizawa’s piece also garnered high praise from critics.
In August 2013, Nishizawa published his first symphony. In November 2017, he published his first opera “Quicksand” (based on Jun’ichiro Tanizaki’s novel). Its libretto was adapted by himself.
Since holding private concerts in Brussels in May and June 2001, the musician has also been active in organizing concerts and performing his own works himself. His broad range of interests have seen him writing essays on music and even taking roles in theatrical plays.
In April 2015, Nishizawa’s first CD was released by Limenmusic Classic & Contemporary Black Line in Italy. The debut features his chamber music pieces, which are performed by the Altus Trio led by Italian Sandro Laffranchini, the principal cellist at l'Orchestra della Scala di Milano.
Available on i Tunes Store
Souvenirs ~ Duo Frösche First Concert
Kenichi Nishizawa, Klaidi Sahatci, Sandro Laffranchini & Andrea Rebaudengo
List of compositions by Kenichi Nishizawa
"Audio" marks mean audios or movies are available on YouTube, SoundCloud or somthing. "Score" marks mean sheet-music is available on web shop of publishers or ScoreExchange.
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sonatina for Violin and Piano | 1995; Oct 2002 at Kunitachi | Vn, Pno | 10' | ||
| 2 | Sonia ~ a meditation for piano solo | 1996; May 2001 at Brussel | Pno | 6' | ● | ● |
| 3 | Impromptu for Tuba solo | 1997; May 2001 at Brussel | Tuba | 6' | ● | |
| 4 | Dance - Prelude | 1997; Aug 1997 at Mitaka | Mar. Pno | 20' | ||
| 5 | Piano Trio No.1 | 1997~98; Dec 1998 at Suita | Vn, Vc, Pno | 12' | ||
| 6 | Jyuran - Nisyou | 1998; Aug 1998 at Fukui | Hp, 2Vn, Va,Vc | 16' | ● | ― |
| 7 | Piano Sonata No.1 | 1998; May 2001 at Brussel | Pno | 16' | ● | |
| 8 | Manner and Substance | 1998; Jan 1999 at Kodaira | 2Pno | 12' | ||
| 9 | Stone Screen I | 1998; Jul 1998 at Tokyo | Mar | 10' | ||
| 10 | Le vent Nouveau I | 1998; Dec 1998 at Tachikawa | Shinobue, Hp | 12' |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | Holy Garden | 1999; Sep 1999 at Tachikawa | Vn, Pno | 9' | ● | ● |
| 12 | into the dark after a little while | 1999; Feb 2007 at Osaka | Va, Pno | 9' | ● | |
| 13 | Stone Screen II | 1999; Oct 1999 at Kokubunji | 4Euph | 10' | ||
| 14 | Cello Sonata No.1 | 1999; May 2001 at Brussel | Vc, Pno | 32' | ● | ● |
| 15 | Stone Screenn III | 2000; 2000 at Brussel | Ob, Mar, Pno | 14' | ● | |
| 16 | le ciel Bleu | 2000; 2000 at Brussel | Mar, Pno | 8' | ● | ● |
| 17 | Trio concertanto | 2000; May 2000 at Tokyo | Vn, Mar, Pno | 25' | ● | |
| 18 | Piano Trio No.2 | 2000; Apr 2001 at Tokyo | Vn, Vc, Pno | 18' | ● | ● |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | Le vent Nouveau II | 2001; Apr 2001 at Tokyo | Guit, Pno | 8' | ● | ― |
| 20 | Der Hagestolz | 2001; May 2001 at Brussel | Tuba, Pno | 7' | ● | |
| 21 | Duo for Guitar and Cello No.1 | 2001; Jul 2001 at Kawagoe | Guit, Vc | 16' | ― | |
| 22 | Chamber Symphony | 2001; Sep 2001 at Sinaloa | Cl, Hr, 2Vn, Va, Vc, Pno | 28' | ● | |
| 23 | Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano | 2001; Nov 2001 at Kodaira | Sax, Pno | 15' | ● | ● |
| 24 | Semplice | 2001; Dec 2001 at Tokyo | Sax, Mar | 7' | ● | ● |
| 26 | Guitar Sonata No.1 | 2001; Nov 2002 at Tsukuba | Guit | 20' | ― | |
| 27 | Trio for Oboe ,Horn and Piano | 2002; Feb 2002 at Tokyo | Ob, Hr, Pno | 25' | ● | ● |
| 28 | Piano Sonata No.2 | 2002; Oct 2003 at Nishinomiya | Pno | 38' | ● | |
| 29 | Fantasy ~ Piano Sonata No.3 | 2002; Oct 2003 at Nishinomiya | Pno | 12' | ● | |
| 30 | Divertimento ~ Piano Trio No.3 | 2002; Dec 2002 at Tokyo | Vn, Vc, Pno | 40' | ||
| 31 | Sonata for Cello Solo | 2002; Oct 2002 at Kobuchizawa | Vc | 20' | ● | |
| 32 | A piece for Clarinet and Guitar | 2002; Oct 2002 at Tokyo | Cl, Guit | 9' | ― |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | Guitar Sonata No.2 | 2003; Nov 2004 at Tokyo | Guit | 20' | ― | |
| 34 | Toccata, Adagio and Fuga | 2003; May 2003 at Akita | 8Hr, Tuba | 12' | ||
| 35 | Duo for Guitar and Cello No.2 | 2003; Jun 2003 at Tokyo | Guit, Vc | 12' | ― | |
| 36 | Sonata for Violin Solo | 2003; Sep 2003 at Tokyo | Vn | 28' | ||
| 37 | Three Arabesques | 2003; Nov 2004 at Tokyo | Guit | 13' | ● | ― |
| 38 | Suite for Violin and Cello | 2003; Oct 2003 at Kobuchizawa | Vn, Vc | 23' | ||
| 39 | Three Inventions | 2003; Aug 2003 at Tokyo | 3Sax(3Fl) | 5' | ||
| 40 | Sonata for Soprano Saxophone and Piano | 2003 | Sax, Pno | 23' | ||
| 41 | Suite for Guitar and Harpsichord | 2004 | Guit, Cem | 20' | ― | |
| 42 | Four Haikus by Ri-ichi Yokomitsu | 2004; 2004 at Madrid | Fl, Guit | 10' | ― | |
| 43 | Hommage to Manuel Ponce ~ Guitar Sonata No.3 | 2004; Nov 2004 at Tokyo | Guit | 23' | ― | |
| 44 | Fantasy pieces | 2004; Sep 2005 at Tokyo | Pno | 18' | ● | ● |
| 45 | Tempo di Menuett | 2004; Nov 2004 at Tokyo | 3Guit | 5' | ||
| 46 | Little suite for Guitar Ensemble | 2004; Oct 2004 at Tokyo | Guit Ensemble(2Alt, Prime, Bass, Contrabass, Guitaron) | 10' | ||
| 47 | Piano Sonata No.4 | 2004; Sep 2005 at Tokyo | Pno | 25' | ● | ● |
| 49 | 14 Etudes and Passacaglia | 2004 | Sax | 30' |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | Serenade No.1 | 2005 | Guit | 25' | ||
| 50 | Brass Quintet | 2005; Jun 2005 at Tokyo | 2Tp, Hr, Tb, Tuba | 16' | ● | ● |
| 51 | Not a Musical Joke in F major | 2005; May 2005 at Tokyo | 2Hr, 2Vn, Va,"Basso" | 30' | ||
| 52 | Serenade No.2 | 2005 | Guit | 30' | ||
| 53 | Saxophone Quartet | 2005; Sep 2005 at Tokyo | 4Sax(Sop, Alt, Ten, Bar) | 27' | ||
| 54 | 5 Pieces for Guitar | 2005 | Guit | 12' | ||
| 56 | Silent Night ~ Variations in the manner of Tango and Theme | 2005; Dec 2005 at Tokyo | Vn, Cb, Pno | 6' | ||
| 57 | Spring, in a Surrey | 2006; Nov 2012 at Tokyo | Vocal(Mez. or Bar) Pno | 30' | ● | |
| 58 | Three Romances | 2006 | Vn, Pno | 12' | ||
| 60 | Christmas Quintet | 2006 | 2Tp, Hr, Tb,Tuba | 20' |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 61-1 | String Quartet No.1 | 2007; Feb 2008 at Tokyo | 2Vn, Va, Vc | 25' | ● | ● |
| 61-2 | String Quartet No.2 | 2007; Feb 2008 at Tokyo | 2Vn, Va, Vc | 30' | ● | ● |
| 61-3 | String Quartet No.3 | 2007; Feb 2008 at Tokyo | 2Vn, Va, Vc | 30' | ● | ● |
| 62 | Three Songs without Word | 2007; 2007 at Spain | Acc, Guit | 10' | ||
| 63 | Symphonic Sonata for Piano 4 Hands | 2007; Mar 2008 at Saitama | Pno(4hands) | 35' | ● | ● |
| 64 | Sonata for Flute, Oboe and Harp | 2007; Nov 2011 at Chigasaki | Fl, Ob, Hp | 20' | ● | ● |
| 65 | Three Pieces for Piano 4 Hands | 2007; Mar 2008 at Saitama | Pno(4hands) | 10' | ● | ● |
| 66 | Little Concert Sonata for Double Cello Sextet | 2008; Feb 2008 at Sendai | 12Vc | 11' | ● | |
| 67 | Introduction and Allegro | 2008; Dec 2008 at Chiba | 8Sax(2Sop, 2Alt, 2Ten, 2Bar) | 5' | ● | ● |
| 68 | Serenade for String Orchestra | 2008; Jan 2009 at Tokyo | Strings | 26' | ● | ― |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 69 | Cello Sonata No.2 | 2009~10; Mar 2012 at Tokyo | Vc, Pno | 23' | ● | ● |
| 70 | Four Little Melodies | 2009; Nov 2010 at Tokyo | Vn, Pno | 10' | ● | ● |
| 71 | A Costal Sketch for Orchestra | 2010; Apr 2010 at Chigasaki | Orch | 10' | ● | ● |
| 72 | Little Concert Rondo | 2010; Oct 2010 at Tokyo | Vn, Guit | 8' | ● | ● |
| 73 | Passacaglia | 2010; Nov 2011 at Tokyo | Pno | 10' | ● | ● |
| 74 | Simple March | 2010 | Wind Orchestra | 3' |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | Les Cloches ~ Variations on a theme of Honegger | 2005/2011; Jan 2012 at Tokyo | 2Mar | 7' | ● | |
| 75 | Theme and Variations | 2012; Nov 2012 at Tokyo | Pno | 18' | ● | |
| 76 | NOTO I&II | 2012 | 2Tp, Hr, Tb, Tuba | 10' | ||
| 77 | Festival Fanfare | 2012; Sep 2012 at Tokyo | Orch | 3' | ||
| 78 | Concertino for Mandolin and String Trio | 2012; Nov 2013 at Kyoto | Mand, Vn, Va, Vc | 18' | ● | ● |
| 79 | A Camelia Sasanqua | 2012; Nov 2012 at Tokyo | Vocal, Pno | 3' | ● |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80 | The epoch of the students | 2013; Apr 2013 at Tokyo | Ob, Cl, Hr, Fg, Pno | 13' | ● | ● |
| 81 | Three Dresses for little pianist | 2013; Dec 2015 at Tokyo | Pno | 7' | ||
| 82 | Clarinet Sonata | 2013; Dec 2013 at Tokyo | Cl, Pno | 20' | ● | ● |
| 83 | Symphony No.1 | 2013; Aug 2013 at Tokyo | Orch | 25' | ● | ● |
| 84 | Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra | 2014 | Solo Vn, Orch | 12' | ● | |
| 85 | The Summer Prelude | 2014; May 2014 at Sendai | 2Pno(8hands) | 10' | ● | |
| 86 | Variations on the Hymn "Veni Veni Emmanuel" | 2014; 2015 at Nagoya | Pno | 12' | ||
| 87 | Suicides | 2014; Dec 2014 at Tokyo | Vocal, Pno | 12' | ● | |
| 88 | Trumpet Sonata | 2014; Oct 2014 at Tokyo | Tp, Pno | 12' | ● | |
| 89 | Fantasia on a Theme by Toraji Onaka | 2014; Mar 2015 at Nagoya | Orch | 8' | ― |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | Cantate Domino Canticum Novum | 2015 | Chor(SATB), Pno | 20' | ||
| 91 | Three Songs after Tamiki Hara | 2015; Sep 2015 at Tokyo | Vocal, Pno | 12' | ● | |
| 92 | Four Songs after Chuya Nakahara | 2015; Mar 2015 at Shunan | Vocal, Pno | 12' | ● | |
| 93 | The Darkness - Tango | 2015; May 2015 at Tokyo | Bandoneon, Vn, Cb, Pno | 5' | ● | |
| 94 | Oboe Sonata | 2015; Sep 2015 at Tokyo | Ob, Pno | 12' | ● | |
| 95 | Jingle Bell for a man who could not get married this year either | 2015; Dec 2015 at Tokyo | Bandoneon, Pno | 5' | ||
| Burgmüller Death Match! | 2015; Dec 2016 at Tokyo | Pno | 15' | ● | ● | |
| 96 | Little Sonata for Recorder and Piano | 2015; May 2016 at Tokyo | Rec, Pno | 7' | ● | ● |
| 97 | Three Fragments after Ango Sakaguchi | 2016; Apr 2016 at Gosen | Vocal, Pno | 10' | ● | |
| Hibari Misora - song cycle | 2016; Jun 2016 at Tokyo | Vocal, Pno | 30' | ● | ― | |
| 98 | Little Sonata for Violin, Koto and Piano | 2016; Jun 2017 at Chiba | Vn, Koto, Pno | 8' | ||
| 99 | Kikimimi Zukin - Operetta for Children | 2016; 2017 | Ten, Alt, Sop, Mez, Bar, Pno | 15' | ― |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quicksand(Manji) - Opera in 3 acts | 2017; Nov 2017 at Tokyo | Mitsuko(Mez), Sonoko(Sop), Kotaro(Ten), Watanuki(Bar), Fl, Ob, Cl, Hr, 2Vn, Va, Vc, Pno |
100' | ● | ||
| Shoka Accompaniments | 2017; Mar 2017 at Shunan | Vocal, Pno | 15' | ● | ||
| 101 | Little Gavotte | 2017 | Hp | 4' | ||
| 102 | Aubade | 2017; Jan 2018 at Akiruno | Oboe d'amore, Pno | 5' | ● | ● |
| 102 | Aubade | 2017; Mar 2019 at Tokyo | Eng.hr, Pno | 5' | ● | |
| 102 | Aubade | 2017; Apr 2018 at Tokyo | Bsn, Pno | 5' | ● | ● |
| Festival Fanfare | 2018; 2020 at Nagoya | wind orch | 1' | ― | ||
| 103 | Bassoon Sonata | 2018; Mar 2019 at Z&uumul;rich | Bsn, Pno | 12' | ● | ● |
| 104 | Festival Sonata for 2 Pianos | 2018; Aug 2019 at Sendai | 2Pno(4hands) | 12' | ● | |
| 105 | Diary of a Mad Old Man - Opera buffa in 2 acts | 2018; Dec 2018 at Tokyo | Tokusuke(Bar), Satsuko(Mez), Sasaki(Sop), Haruhisa(Ten), Chiyo(Sop), Keisuke(Boy Sop), Jokichi(Actor), Kugako(Actress), Ob, Fg, Vn, Va, Vc, Perc, Pno |
80' | ● | |
| Six Traditional Japanese Children's songs | 2018; Feb 2019 at Chofu | Vocal, Vn, Pno | 12' | ● |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Land of Heart's Desire | 2019; Nov 2020 at Tokyo | Vocal, Pno | 15' | ● | ||
| 107 | Little Sonata for Violin Solo | 2019; Jul 2019 at Yokohama | Vn | 10' | ● | |
| 108 | Trio for oboe, Bassoon and Piano | 2019 | Ob, Bsn, Pno | 16' | ||
| 109 | Little Sonata for Percussion instruments and Piano | 2019 | Perc.(2Timp. 2Tom-t. Tamb. Vib. 2Cymb. Tam-t. Xylo. 2Woodblocks. Vibraslap. S.D. Whistle), Pno | 10' | ||
| 110 | Concerto for Oboe and String Orchestra | 2020 | Ob, Str | 15' | ||
| 66bis | Concerto grosso | 2020 | 2Vn, Str | 12' | ● | |
| 68 | Serenade for Strings(Rev.) | 2020 | Str | 20' | ● | |
| 111 | Little Sonata for Chromatic Harmonica and Piano | 2020 | Harm, Pno | 8' | ||
| 112 | An Ivy-coverd gate for Harmonica solo | 2020 | Harm | 6' | ● |
| Title | Composition, First performance | Instrumentation | Duration | Audio | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quicksand(Manji) - Opera in 3 acts orchestral version | 2021; Dec 2021 at Tokyo | Mitsuko(Mez), Sonoko(Sop), Kotaro(Ten), Watanuki(Bar), Orch |
100' | |||
| 113 | Four Preludes for Mandolin solo | 2021; Spr 2021 at Kyoto | Mand | 6' | ||
| 114 | Sonata for English horn and Piano | 2021 | Eng.h, Pno | 10' | ||
| 115 | Duo for Violin and Viola | 2021; Jul 2021 at Yokohama | Vn, Va | 14' | ||
| 116 | Sinfonietta for Mandolin Orchestra | 2021; Aug 2021 at Sapporo | 2Mand, Mandola, Guitar, Mandoloncello, Contrabass | 18' | ||
| 117 | 24 Preludes | 2021 | Pno | 35' | ● | |
| Paraphrase on the ukrainian melodies for violin and piano | 2022; Spr 2022 at Yokohama | Vn, Pno | 5' | |||
| Gloves : Ukrainiac folk tale | 2022; Spr 2022 at Yokohama | Narrator, Vn, Pno | 10' | |||
| The fool and the flying ship : Ukrainiac folk tale | 2022; Spr 2022 at Yokohama | Narrator, Vn, Pno | 25' | |||
| 119 | Concerto for 2 Pianos and Orchestra | 2022 | 2Pno,Orch | 25' | ||
| 120 | Concerto for 2 Violins and Orchestra | 2022 | 2Vn,Orch | 20' |
