Haruna Miyake
Attractiveness
of duo by two pianos comes from the encounter of the two instruments which
have the same range and the same tone. In my childhood it was the truly fascinating
instrumental combination for me. Perhaps while playing I was attracted by
the unexpected moment that the two resonators accidentally made mysterious
sound, or by the exaltation that I was deeply surrounded with resonating sound.
Since then I always love piano duos, and the first piece of my compositions
at the music school in New York was "Concertino for two pianos". Also after
starting professional carrier I composed some pieces for two pianos from time
to time. I even have been a player of duo piano units, one of which I named
"sting-sting duo" because the two members were totally incompatible. Anyhow
I have performed for quite a long time with a number of pianists various types
of piano duo pieces by other composers, by my own, and also duo improvisations.
One day I started to teach composition at a college. It came to my mind to
have a workshop for improvisation and the lecturer should be no one else but
Aki Takase ! So I met Aki for the first time. Aki at the workshop was so fabulous
that many of our students became yearning for improvisation afterwards. That
day Aki and I played some duo improvisations as the demonstration for students,
and I felt we were some how greatly getting along with each other. So I was
simply glad, when I was asked to have a duo live with Aki. And this CD is
the fruit of it.
( Translated
by Mitsuyo Nishi )