A Japanese Composer Reigns Geneva International Music Competition

Music competitions are numerous and Japanese contestants have won many in instruments but seldom in composition. The Geneva International Music Competition this year offered a category for composition and 101 contestants from 31 countries contested. Among the last four left for final selection was Shoichi Yabuta, 32, from Tatsuno, Hyogo, Japan.

Geneva International Music Competition is one of the popular stages for Japanese contestant in instrumental categories. Miss Mami Hagiwara from Hiroshima won in the piano category in 2010.

The competition, 70th this year since its founding, now offers a new category for music composition. The four finalists were introduced on November 8 evening and their works performed before an audience of 300.

Yabuta's piece was a string quartet with two violins, a viola and a cello entitled "Billow" meaning "a big wave". The piece was seven minutes in duration with finely knit melodies depicting the winding motions of waves and won a broad applause from the audience.

The composition category is in its second year and Shoichi Yabuta is the first Japanese to win the prize.

"I have always been second in every competition and I'm very happy to have won the first prize for the first time. Tatsuno is home to Rofu Miki, the legendary poet known for his celebrated work "Red Dragonfly", and I too would very much like to work on nursery songs", said Yabuta.

A member of the panel of judges, Composer Dai Fujikura commented:

"From the point of view of a general structure, Yabuta's work was outstanding. Now that he has won in the Geneva Competition, he certainly has a promising future ahead".

Not that instrumentalists have easier way through the competitions, it is undoubtedly more trying to win international competitions in composition. Shoichi Yabuta's feat is truly worthwhile commending.

News Source: NHK