Itsuki-no-Komori-Uta (score)

Itsuki-no-Komori-Uta is a composition by Wil Offermans for flute ensemble. It is based on a most famous Japanese melody. This edition has been awarded by the Newly Published Music Committee of the National Flute Association, USA, in 2003.

Itsuki-no-Komori-uta is a popular Japanese traditional folk song (literally "The lullaby of Itsuki"). Itsuki is the name of a mountain village in southern Japan (Kumamoto area). This village is well-known for its beautiful nature and its clean river. In old times, when Itsuki was desperately poor, the people had to send their 7-8 year old daughters to the rich families in the city to work as a nursemaid. Living far away from home, these young nursemaids had to look after the babies all day long. When lulling the babies asleep, they started to sing about their own misfortune and distress and created the lullaby Itsuki-no-Komori-uta.

Features

• title: Itsuki-no-Komoriuta (Lullaby of Itsuki Village)
• subtitle: arrangement of a famous Japanese melody for flute ensemble
• composer: Wil Offermans
• publisher: Zimmermann, Germany
• number: ZM33850
• year: 2000
• instruments: 4 flutes; 1 alto flute (or C flute); 2 bass flutes; 1 contrabass flute, however all flutes also can be performed on other instruments e.g. flutes in C.
• duration: 7 minutes
• language: introduction and explanation in German and English
• score: 8 pages plus 8 part-scores and an additional optional 'flute 5' (as an alternative for the alto flute)
• notes: Itsuki-no-Komoriuta has been recorded by Wil Offermans at the CD Made in Japan (CDE-981 / E-records).