Wataru Okawara
OKAWARA Wataru
Percussion
Born in Fukushima Prefecture. Graduated from Senzoku Gakuen Junior College, Department of Music. Studied percussion instruments under Mikio Aida, Satoshi Ishiuchi, and Tomoyuki Okada.
After playing for the Tokyo New City Orchestra (now Pacific Philharmonia Tokyo), he became a percussionist for the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
| One of my favorite songs |
Rimsky-Korsakov: Spanish Caprice
This song is full of exotic atmosphere and features solos by various instruments including the violin, and percussion instruments also play a major role.
The orchestration is superb and the use of percussion is excellent.
There are no wasted sounds in the piece, from large instruments such as timpani, bass drum, and cymbals to small instruments such as tambourines, triangles, snare drums, and castanets, making it a challenging piece that tests the performer's technique and sense.
The brave trumpet fanfare and the subsequent violin solo are accompanied by snare drums playing continuously in the background. This is a part that I personally have a special attachment to, as I also performed it at my audition for the Japan Philharmonic Orchestra.
The lively rhythms and bright tones of the percussion section add color to the music, and combined with the lyrical melodies of Spanish folk songs, make the music even richer.
This is my favorite song and I would love for you to hear it at the venue. |
