“おやすみ・Oyasumi is the finale of Yoshinao Nakada’s Six children’s songs (1947), with text by writer Rofū Miki (1889-1964). The piece depicts a winter scene in rural Japan, featuring a dreamy piano line layered with vocal motives that are reminiscent of cool night winds and lullabies.

The fusion between Japanese text and western art song - Japanese Kakyoku is less familiar to those in the western music community. Nakada’s setting of Miki’s effortless yet intricate text is in a way, similar to the resonance of the Japanese language. We hope that this performance becomes a heart-warming introduction to the beauty of Japanese poetry and music.”

“Kuchinashi, the last of Saburo Takata’s song cycle titled “Dialogue Alone,” speaks to remembering one’s deceased father’s words through a gardenia tree planted in a backyard garden. We dedicate this performance in memory of Chihiro’s grandfather, Tomohiro who passed away in the summer of 2021.”

“Music has the capability of triggering memory, making associations with a particular time, a particular place. We carry these memories with us, which may float to the surface every so often. And just like a wave, our thoughts ebb and flow; our feelings rise and fall. In this concert, we explore music that makes a connection to a past time and place.”

“This March, Hibiki is honoured to perform in the 41st Annual Ontario Japanese Speech Contest (OJSC)’s cultural segment. Beginning as a platform to expand the understanding of and appreciation towards the resonance of the Japanese language, Hibiki felt an immediate connection to OJSC’s long-term goals, especially as the event returns to an in-person setting this year. In “An Intro to Japanese Songs,” Hibiki invites audiences and participants to open their ears to the musicality of the Japanese language in a program featuring both familiar and less prominently performed contemporary tunes, alongside solo piano performances by our very own Sakurako Jayne Abe. A special thank you to Ms. Ikuko Komuro-Lee and the OJSC’s entire Organizing Committee for making this performance possible. ”