四つのリトルネッロ Quatro Ritornelli
by 藤井眞吾 Shingo Fujii
音楽用語として一般的に言われる「リトルネッロ形式」は特にバロック時代のアリアや協奏曲で見られるものですが、今回私はそのことよりも「リトルネッロ」というイタリア語本来の、「帰る」という意味により強い共感を得て作品を書きました。それは私達がいつも「帰巣（きそう）」する本能を持ち、そしてそこにこそ私達が信ずる《幸福》が存在すると言う、強い願いでもあります。題名の通り、四つの楽章から構成され、個々には完結した楽章ですが、四季の移り目に間断がないように「アタッカ attacca」で、そして時には楽章の間に緊張した静寂を聞きながら、連続したひとつの楽曲として演奏することを望んでいます。
それぞれの楽章は冒頭に短い「斉唱」部を持ちます。第1楽章は「 ... verso il mare 海へ」と題した《舟歌 Barcarole》、第2楽章はイタリアの特徴的舞曲である「Tarantèlla タランテラ」、音楽と言うよりも我々人間の営みや響宴の象徴です。第3楽章は「Cantilèna 詠唱の歌」、哀歌ではなく静かに幸せを願う歌、各パートのソリストの独奏は総奏を優しく招き入れます。最終楽章の「... la fine e l’ inizio 終わりは始まり」という抽象的なタイトルは「帰る」という意味の「リトルネッロ」を別の言葉で表現したものです。古いイタリアの舞曲《サルタレッロ Saltarello》、喜びに満ちた終幕は必ず新たな幕開けにつながると思うからです。
Quatro Ritornelli
by Shingo Fujii
Generally speaking, the musical term ‘ritornello’ is used to describe the form and style of certain Baroque arias and concertos. However, the inspiration that moved me to compose this work was not that specific musical tradition, but a strong sympathy for the original meaning of this Italian word, ‘to return’. It reflects a deeply-held belief of mine: that the instinct to return to our places of origin, to our memories of the past, is a universal one. And that by returning to these places of our past, either physically or mentally, we believe we can find true happiness. As the title shows, this work consists of four movements. Although each movement reaches its own natural conclusion, the four movements work together to create a single large work. So while some movements should be played attacca, like seasons changing without interruption, others can have the tension-filled quietness between movements make the piece a continuous whole.
Each movement begins with a brief passage in unison. The first movement is a barcarole entitled ‘… verso il mare (to the sea)’. The second movement is ‘Tarantella’, a dance unique to Italian music; it symbolizes human activities and feasts rather than music. The third movement,‘Cantilena’, is not an elegy, but a song that calmly wishes for happiness. Unaccompanied passages by the soloists gently invite the tutti group to return to the music. The last movement is ‘…la fine e l’inzio (the end is the beginning)'. ‘Retournello’, which means to return, is expressed differently in this abstract title. This movement is an Italian old dance called saltarello. It carries this title to express the belief that a finale filled with delight will surely lead to a new beginning. |
