Composer, Harue KUNIEDA's Official Website

Some updates on my recent activities:

I have retired from Kumamoto University after 27 years of service.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation for your friendship and guidance both publicly and privately during my tenure.
I will continue my research activities as a composer after retirement.
Thank you very much for your kind attention.


August 25, 2024 (Sun) at Kumamoto Prefectural Theater Concert Hall
~ Commissioned work for the 15th Anniversary of KGC Male Chorus
Suite for Male Chorus Five Pairs of Shoes.
(Original work: Five Pairs of Shoes written by Gonin-Zure / Lyric structure and Music by Harue Kunieda) had a wonderful performance for the first time.

I performed my own compositions:
‘Recitation II’ for Piano Solo
‘Passacaglia and Fugue’ for Piano Solo from the Folksong ‘Yo-He-Ho’ at the Tokyo Tower Cultural Festival on Sunday, March 9, 2024.
If you have time, please listen to my performance from the following links.



We had Foyer Salon Concert Vol.7 ‘The Invitation of Contemporary Music’ on Friday, September 1, 2023 at the Kumamoto Prefectural Theatre.
With excellent performers - on Violin: Takako Yamasaki, on Cello: Kei Yamazawa, and on Piano: Harue Kunieda.
The program of this concert was very ambitious, including the second performance of the piece ‘And also, as we chant’ for Violin, Cello and Piano. I played the Piano Part.
Thank you to the people who attended.


‘And also, as we chant’ for Violin, Cello and Piano had a wonderful first performance at the 19th Exhibition of the 21st Century Composers ’Association on Wednesday, June 7, 2023.
(Violin: Wakako Hanada, Cello: Takui Matsumoto, Piano: Shoichiro Tanaka)
This piece is connected to the concept of my work ‘Chanting’ for Cello and Orchestra that was first performed on the 1st of December 2021 at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.
If you have time, please come and listen to my new piece.


My old piece ‘Articulation' for Contrabass was performed for a second time at Tokyo Opera City Recital Hall on December 9th, 2022.
This piece was included in the program of Pegasus Concert Series Vol.IV, Japan Society for Contemporary Music
「Ghost in the Double Bass」by Seiya Kondo. ( Contrabass )


My new piece ‘Kotohogi: Celebration for Shakuhachi and Percussion’ was first performed at the Art Hall of Chiba City Culture Center on September 2nd, 2022.
This piece was dedicated to the maestro Sakata’s 80th birthday and features some special friends in performance. (Percussion : Mizuki Aita)


My new piece 'Chanting for Cello Solo and Orchestra' had a grate premiere on the 1st of December 2021 at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall. It was a part of the Orchestra Project 2021 Concert by Kei Yamazawa (Celloist), Keiko Mitsuhashi (Conductor) and Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra.

The Orchestra Project 2021 Concert's Concept:
'Revival of Eternal Harmony - Seeking a Moment of New Symbiosis'
The world-wide pandemic that we are facing today has brought tight restrictions not only to cherished connections among people, but also upon cultural activities, especially to live musical performances where people can share a space of resonation. Such an unprecedented situation is devastating for us living in these times, while in pursuit of the lasting development of the spirit of musical creation.
Historically, musical activities have always been at the mercy of war, social unrest and so on. During such times, something often overcame the situation, and gave birth to important works with solid expression, which brought new perspective and lasting influence.
Then under the key phrase of “Revival of Eternal Harmony - Seeking for a Moment of New Symbiosis”, we will launch orchestral works by four composers, each with very different characters, to find a clue as to how to break free of the stagnation of musical activities, and to consider what kind of behavior can create a splendid acoustic space that people can share.


'Floral Tributes II for Four Flutes' had a lovely first performance at the 16th concert of the 21st Century Composer's Association on the 8th of May 2019 (Flutes: Junichiro Taku, and other flutists).

'Music for Strings, Percussion and Shakuhachi : Floral Tributes III' had a wonderful premier on the 17th of November 2017 performed by the Tokyo Symphony Orchestra.
(Conductor: Yoichi SUGIYAMA; Shakuhachi: Seizan SAKATA; Percussion: Mizuki AITA).
It was a part of the Orchestra Project Concert 2017 at Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall.
This piece was selected for ISCM World New Music Days in Beijing. It had its second performance at Closing Concert, ISCM Festival on the 26th of May 2018.

On the 13th of March 2018 an international conference was held at L'Istituto Giapponese di Cultura in Roma /The Japan Foundation/ Kumamoto University.
I performed my piece 'Passacaglia for Piano Solo' from the folksong 'Yo-he-ho' of the Yamaga Lantern Dance Festival at the Japan Foundation Hall in Rome.

You-tube videos with Harue Kunieda's Works.

You tube video of Harue Kunieda's Work 'Floral Tributes' for Shakuhachi, Percussion and Piano (2015) by Kumamoto Prefectural Theater 'Art Channel' (Ouchi de Hakusyu wo)

You tube videos of Harue Kunieda's work for choral music.

The coronavirus problem has had a very bad influence on live performance activities around the world.
Especially on choral music, opera and other such singing activities where powerful and deep breathing is necessary.
As musicians we should avoid congregating in crowded places such as rehearsals rooms and audiences should avoid crowded auditoriums.
So, some music publishers are thinking about the new ways to allow people to hear musical performances, and one good way is on you tube.

Please listen to these videos:

• 'Jiyuwansama no Shima' for Mixed Chorus and Organ.
  I 'Kiriyarenzu'
  II 'Guluriyoza'
  III 'Jiyuwansama no Shima'
  
• 'Bird' for Mixed Chorus and Piano
  
  
• 'Futari' for Female Chorus and Marimba Solo
  I　 　 　　　
  II　　 　　　
  III　
  

You-tube videos with Harue Kunieda's Works for Chamber Music.

• 'Corridors of Light III'
  
• 'Floral Tributes'
  

Please check out this recent work of mine.
I hope to continue to write more new pieces for contemporary music.
Thank you for coming to my homepage.
Harue Kunieda

The Earthquake in Kumamoto

In the recent Kumamoto Earthquake in April 2016, we were affected and a significant amount of infrastructure and facilities were damaged.
Since then we have been focusing on repair work in order to resume various normal functions and activities.
Thank you very much for sending us donations and heartfelt words.

Harue KUNIEDA { Profile }

Born in Tokyo, she began learning the piano and solfège at the age of four at the Toho Music School for Children.
She entered the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and majored in composition, graduating in 1983.
In 1986, she attended the Tanglewood Summer Institute as a fellowship student, where her works were recognized by Leonard Bernstein, Toru Takemitsu, and others.
Her works have been performed at Tanglewood Contemporary Music Festival, at ISCM-ACL events in Hong Kong, Australia, Israel and the Philippines, etc.
In 2000, 'Serenade for Soprano and Harp' was selected for ISCM World Music Days in Luxemburg.
In 2003, she was selected as one of the artists involved in the Japanese Government Overseas Study Program, in London.
In 2005, 'Peace on Earth for Soprano, Harp and Orchestra' was commissioned and first performed by the NHK Symphony Orchestra in Tokyo.
In 2009, 'Peace on Earth' was selected for ISCM World New Music Days in Sweden.
In 2010, 'Recitation III' for Seven Players was commissioned and first performed by Ensemble MD7 at UNICUM Festival in Slovenia.
In 2018, 'Music for Strings, Percussion and Shakuhachi: Floral Tributes III' was selected for ISCM World New Music Days in Beijing.
In 1996, she was appointed as a music education teacher at Kumamoto University's Faculty of Education, where she was involved for 27 years developing Kumamoto's music education and nurturing rich human resources.
She is now an emeritus professor at Kumamoto University and a member of the Japan Society for Contemporary Music and the 21st Century Composer's Association.

Harue KUNIEDA { Main Works }

"Ode" for Mixed Chorus (1981)

"3 Preludes" for Piano (1983)

"Trio" for Violin,Clarinet in B♭and Piano (1981/84)

"Élévatiton"pour Violon Solo (1985)

"Toi Aki" for Female Chorus(1985)

"Élévatiton II"pour Cinq Exécutants (1985)

"Élévatiton III"pour Orgue (1986)

"Field" for Piano Solo (1988)

"Yube no Niji" for Mixed Chorus (1988)

"Coloring" For Madolin Orchestra (1988)

"Field III" for Chamber Orchestra (1990)

"Elegy" for Violoncello Solo (1990)

"Reflection" for Piano Solo (1990)

"Blends" For Madolin Orchestra (1991)

"Lead,Leed,Read, Reed" for 2High Sopranos,
2Clarinets, Percussion and Piano (1991)

"Serenade" for Soprano and Harp (1992)

"Distance" for Organ and Percussion (1992)

"Distance II" for Sho and Organ (1993)

"Aki no Michi" for Female Chorus

"Reflection II" for Percussion and Piano (1993)

"Eight Sumo Wrestlers" for Tuba Ensemble (1995)

"Futari" for Female Chorus and Marimba (1996)

"Weather" "Chestnut Leaves"for Soprano and Piano

"Reflection III" for Orchestra (1996)

"Four Songs" for Soprano,Clarinet and Piano from'Ambarvalia' by Junzaburo Nishiwaki (1997-98)

"Scenograhpy" for Percussion Solo (1998)

"For the Repose of Floral Souls" Suite for Mixed Choir (1998)

"3 Pieces for Piano Solo"based on Greek folk Songs

"Towa no Hikari" for Mixed Chorus

"Seraphim" for Violin and Orchestra(1997,1999)

"The Bird" for Mixed Chorus (2000)

"Etude, Jeux d'enfants"

"Three Songs" for Soprano,Clarinet and Piano from'Ambarvalia' by Junzaburo Nishiwaki (2001)

"Articulation" for Contrabass (2001)

"Breathing" for Flute and Piano (2002)

"Meoto Zenzai" for Male Chorus

"A Step Forward" (2003)

"3 Sketches" for Prepared Piano

"Medley The Four Seasons" for Piano Four Hands

"Revelation" for Orchestra (2004)

"Peace on Earth" for Soprano, Harp and Orchetra (2005)

"Ryo-ran" for Koto and Shakuhachi (2005)

"Neko no Dodoitsu A,I,U,E,O" for Children's Chorus, Percussion and Piano (2006)

"Recitation" for Piano Solo (2006)

"Juwansama no Shima" for Mixed Chorus and Organ

"Hikari no Michi wo for Narrator, 2Koto, Shakuhachi, Flute and Percussion

"Guluriyoza" for Violin and Piano (2009)

"Recitation II" for Piano Solo (2009)

"Recitation III" for Seven Players (2010)

"Easter Egg" for Flute and Piano (2011)

"Memorial Song" for Organ Solo (2012)

"Easter Egg II" for Flute and Piano (2012)

"Ai no Uta" for Mixed Chorus and Piano (2012)

"Manabinagara" for Mixed Chorus and Piano (2013)

"Corridors of Light" for Violin and Piano (2013)

"Hashirimizu" for Soprano, Flute and Violoncello (2013)

"Azuma-ha-ya" for Solo Percussionist (2014)

"Corridors of Light II" for Piano Solo (2014)

"Corridors of Light III"for Vibraphone and Piano(2014)

"Floral Tributes" for Shakuhachi, Percussion and Piano (2015)

"Music for Strings, Percussion and Shakuhachi~Floral Tributes III" (2017)

‘Passacaglia and Fugue for Piano Solo’ from the Folksong ‘Yo-he-ho’

"Floral Tributes II" for Four Flutes (2016, 2019)

"As the words say" Suite for Mixed Choir and Piano (2019)

"Chanting for Cello and Orchestra" (2021)

‘Kotohogi: Celebration for Shakuhachi and Percussion’

‘And also, as we chant’ for Violin, Cello and Piano