Kenichi Nishizawa - Biography & List of compositions

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

Holy Garden ~ Works of Kenichi Nishizawa
Souvenirs ~ Duo Frösche First Concert
Kenichi Nishizawa, Klaidi Sahatci, Sandro Laffranchini & Andrea Rebaudengo

List of compositions by Kenichi Nishizawa

1995~2000

Op.	Title	Composition, First performance	Instrumentation	Duration
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'
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'

2001~2004

Op.	Title	Composition, First performance	Instrumentation	Duration
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'
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'

2005~2008

Op.	Title	Composition, First performance	Instrumentation	Duration
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'
59	Suite for 2 Bassoons	2006	2Fg	15'
60	Christmas Quintet	2006	2Tp, Hr, Tb,Tuba	20'
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'

2009~2012

Op.	Title	Composition, First performance	Instrumentation	Duration
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'
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 Stiong Trio	2012; Nov 2013 at Kyoto	Mand, Vn, Va, Vc	18'
79	A Camelia Sasanqua	2012; Nov 2012 at Tokyo	Vocal, Pno	3'

2013~2016

Op.	Title	Composition, First performance	Instrumentation	Duration
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	Concerto for Violin and Orchestra	2014	Solo Vn, Solo Hp, Orch	23'
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'
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	La oscuridad (The Darkness)	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 a girlfriend also this year	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'

2017~

Op.	Title	Composition, First performance	Instrumentation	Duration
100	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(or Eng.hr, or Fg), Pno	5'
103	Bassoon Sonata	2018; Mar 2019 at Z&uumul;rich	Fg, 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'
106	Land of Heart's Desire	2019	Vocal, Pno	15'
107	Little Sonata for Violin Solo	2019; Jul 2019 at Yokohama	Vn	10'