To spread my musical pieces around the world

Harue KUNIEDA


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.

Piano, Solfège, Music Theory and Composition Private Instruction

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.

熊本県立劇場ホワイエサロンコンサートVol.7


‘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.

「21世紀音楽の会」第19回演奏会


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 )


尺八の大家 坂田誠山先生の傘寿記念演奏会「坂田誠山と愉快な仲間たち」


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)


尺八の大家 坂田誠山先生の傘寿記念演奏会「坂田誠山と愉快な仲間たち」


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.

オーケストラ・プロジェクト2021


'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).

Please listen to the recording below:
the 16th concert of the 21st Century Composer's Association

'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)
Youtubeで再生


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' Youtubeで再生
    II 'Guluriyoza' Youtubeで再生
    III 'Jiyuwansama no Shima' Youtubeで再生
  • 'Bird' for Mixed Chorus and Piano
    Youtubeで再生
  • 'Futari' for Female Chorus and Marimba Solo
    I Youtubeで再生    II Youtubeで再生    III Youtubeで再生


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

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

Mixed Chor. Hr. Trp.Pf (18')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,12, 1982, Tokyo

"3 Preludes" for Piano (1983)

Pf (13')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct,28, 1983, Tokyo

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

Vn.Cl. in B♭,Pf (13')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Dec,20, 1984, Tokyo
Special Prize at the 33rd Viotti International Competition

"Élévatiton"pour Violon Solo (1985)

Vn. (12')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Jun,12, 1985, Tokyo
CD:Seraphim/CAMERATA TOKYO, Inc.
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

"Toi Aki" for Female Chorus(1985)

Female Chor.Pf.(17')
Date&place of the 1st Performance : Sep,6, 1985, Kamakura
Release: Edition KAWAI

"Élévatiton II"pour Cinq Exécutants (1985)

Fl, Cl. Marib. Perc. Cb (10')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Dec.20. 1985, Tokyo
Release: JFC LP Japanese Composers 1988

"Élévatiton III"pour Orgue (1986)

Pipe Org. (12')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,19, 1986, Tokyo
Selected for ISCM-ACL 1988 in Hong Kong

"Field" for Piano Solo (1988)

Pf (10')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Apr,14, 1988, Tokyo
Release: CD Good Coposeres Extra/BRAIN Company Ltd.
Release: Da Vinci Publishing

"Yube no Niji" for Mixed Chorus (1988)

Mixed Chor.Pf.(19')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Dec,19, 1989, Toyko
Release: Edition KAWAI

"Coloring" For Madolin Orchestra (1988)

Mand. Orch. (18')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,26, 1988, Tokyo

"Field III" for Chamber Orchestra (1990)

Chamber Orch. (9')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Sep,1, 1990, Tokyo
Release: Da Vinci Publishing
Cond. by Daniel Harding at TMC Contemporary Musc Festival1993

"Elegy" for Violoncello Solo (1990)

Vc. (8')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Dec,7 1990, Tokyo
Release: JFC CD Japanese Composers 1996

"Reflection" for Piano Solo (1990)

Pf (5')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Mar,3. 1990, Tokyo

"Blends" For Madolin Orchestra (1991)

Mand. Orch. (13')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Sep,22, 1991, Tokyo
Release: CD Rainbow-colored Mobile

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

2Sop. 2.Cl. in B♭,Perc.Pf (11')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Jun, 3. 1992, Sendai

"Serenade" for Soprano and Harp (1992)

Sop, Hrp (10')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Aug,20. 1992, Fukui
Release: JFC Inc.,CD Seraphim,
Selected for ISCM-WMD 2000 inLuxemburg

"Distance" for Organ and Percussion (1992)

Org. Perc. (13'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct,5,1992, Tokyo

"Distance II" for Sho and Organ (1993)

Sho, Org. (12')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct,16,1993, Tokyo

"Aki no Michi" for Female Chorus

Female Chor. (17'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Nov,9. 1993, Tokyo
Release: Edition KAWAI

"Reflection II" for Percussion and Piano (1993)

Perc. Pf (12')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Dec,16. 1993, Tokyo

"Eight Sumo Wrestlers" for Tuba Ensemble (1995)

8Tuba. (9')
Date: Dec. 18, 1995

"Futari" for Female Chorus and Marimba (1996)

Female Chor. Marib. (14')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Nov, 7. 1996, Tokyo
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

"Weather" "Chestnut Leaves"for Soprano and Piano

Sop. Pf (6')
Date: Feb. 12, 1997

"Reflection III" for Orchestra (1996)

Orch.(The 2 Winds) (10')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Apr,5. 1997, Hamilton,U.S.A.
Music of Japan Today III Festival 1997

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

Sop. Cl. inB♭, Pf (12')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Sep,7,1998, Tokyo
Release: CD Seraphim/CAMERATA TOKYO, Inc.

"Scenograhpy" for Percussion Solo (1998)

Perc. (13'20")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Sep,7.1998, Tokyo
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

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

Mixed Chor. (19'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct,3,1998, Tokyo
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

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

Pf (9')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : July,16,1999, Tokyo
Release: Edition KAWAI

"Towa no Hikari" for Mixed Chorus

Mixed Chor. (16'00")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct,24,1999, Ehime
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

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

Vn. Orch. (14'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Mar,2,2000, Tokyo
Release: CD Seraphim/CAMERATA, ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION
Selected for ISCM-ACL 2004 in Israel

"The Bird" for Mixed Chorus (2000)

Mixed Chor. .Pf (4'40")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Jun,5,2005, Kumamoto
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

"Etude, Jeux d'enfants"

Pf
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

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

Sop. Cl. inB♭, Pf (11'20")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Sep,8,2001, Tokyo

"Articulation" for Contrabass (2001)

Cb. (8'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct,7,2001, Yokohama
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

"Breathing" for Flute and Piano (2002)

Fl. Pf (6')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Apr,28, 2002, Tokyo
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

"Meoto Zenzai" for Male Chorus

Male Chor. (14')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Feb,16,2003, Tokyo
Release: Edition KAWAI

"A Step Forward" (2003)

Picc. Pf (6')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Mar,22, 2003, Kumamoto

"3 Sketches" for Prepared Piano

Prepared Pf (10')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Aug,24,2003, Kumamoto

"Medley The Four Seasons" for Piano Four Hands

Piano for 4 Hands
Release: Edition KAWAI

"Revelation" for Orchestra (2004)

Orch.(The 3 Winds) (12'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Nov,24,2004, Tokyo

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

Sop. Hrp. Orch.(The 2 Winds) (10'00")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Jun,17,2005, Tokyo
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION, Music Tomorrow 2005,
Selected for ISCM-WNMD 2009 in Sweden

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

Koto, Shakuhachi (13'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Nov,5,2005, Kumamoto
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

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

Children's Chor. Perc. Pf (25')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Nov,26.2006, Tokyo
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

"Recitation" for Piano Solo (2006)

Pf (5')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Mar,4. 2007, Tokyo

"Juwansama no Shima" for Mixed Chorus and Organ

Mixed Chor. Org. (20'00")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Nov,24,2007, Kumamoto
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

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

Narr. 2 Koto, Shakuhachi, Fl. Perc.(50')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,25, 2008, Kumamoto

"Guluriyoza" for Violin and Piano (2009)

Vn. Pf (8'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Mar,6. 2009, Tokyo
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

"Recitation II" for Piano Solo (2009)

Pf (4'40")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,3, 2009, Tokyo

"Recitation III" for Seven Players (2010)

Fl.Cl. Trb. Perc. Vla. Vc. Pf (9')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct,4,2010, Ljubljana
UNICUM Festival in Slovenia, Trieate Prima Festival 2010 in Itary

"Easter Egg" for Flute and Piano (2011)

Fl,Pf (3'25")
The 1st Performance : April,10, 2012, (an on-line system)
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

"Memorial Song" for Organ Solo (2012)

Org. (8')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : March,11,2012, Yokohama
The memorial service of the earthquake of the North Eastern Coast of Japan

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

Fl,Pf (2'40")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,12, 2012, Tokyo
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

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

Mixed Chor. Pf. (5')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : August, 7, 2012, Tokyo

"Manabinagara" for Mixed Chorus and Piano (2013)

Mixed Chor. Pf. (5')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : March, 11, 2013, Tokyo

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

Vn, Pf. (6'20")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,6, 2013, Tokyo

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

Sop. Fl. Vc. (15'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : January,16,2014, Tokyo
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

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

Perc. (9' 40")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : February,28, 2014, Tokyo
Release: Mother Earth Company Ltd.

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

Pf. (3'30")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May,5, 2014, Tokyo

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

Vib. Pf. (7'40")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Jan,25, 2015, Kumamoto

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

Shakuhachi,Percussion, Pf. (8'40")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Oct, 25, 2015, Tokyo

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

Shakuhachi, Percussion, Strings, Hp. (16'10")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Nov,17, 2017, Tokyo

"Passacaglia for Piano Solo" from the Folksong 'Yo-He-Ho' (2018)

Pf. (5'10")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : March, 13, 2018, Roma
International conference, L' Istituto Giapponese di Cultura in Roma/ The Japan Foundation/ Kumamoto University.

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

4 Flutes (12'02")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : May, 8, 2019, Tokyo

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

Mixed Chor. Pf. (22')
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Dec. 8, 2019 Tokyo
Release: ONGAKU-NO-TOMO EDITION

"Chanting for Cello and Orchestra" (2021)

Cello, Orch. (The 2 Winds) (16'10")
Date & Place of the 1st Performance : Dec.1, 2021 Tokyo