tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8396501987124862582024-03-13T04:12:33.640+00:00Pocket Penguinmainly melodica and guitar duootonokihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09997842638857800539noreply@blogger.comBlogger63125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-67619290215449072952019-05-27T17:30:00.000+01:002019-05-27T17:32:49.994+01:00After the Concert, "Music for a while"Date: 12th May (SUN)<br />
Time: 19:30~<br />
Venue: East Finchley Methodist Church<br />
High Rd., London N2 8AJ (opp.Creighton Ave)<br />
Admission: Free Collection in aid of <a href="https://www.noahsarkhospice.org.uk/">Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice</a><br />
<br />
Programme:<br />
<br />
Part I<br />
<ol>
<li>Music for a While - H.Purcell (Vo, M & G)</li>
<li>Notturuno Op.37 - F. Molino (Vn & G)</li>
<li>Abendempfindung - W.A. Mozart (Vo & P)</li>
<li>An Chloe - W.A. Mozart (Vo & P)</li>
<li>Violin Sonata no.5 (Spring) - L.V Beethoven (Vn & P)</li>
</ol>
<ul>
<li>I. Allegro</li>
<li>II. Adagio Molto espressivo</li>
<li>III. Scherzo: Allegro molto</li>
<li>IV. Rondo: Allegro ma non troppo</li>
</ul>
<br />
Part II<br />
<br />
<ol>
<li>Pastime with Good Company - Attib. Henry VIII (P, A, U & C)</li>
<li>Frog Galliard - J. Dowland (M & G)</li>
<li>Fine Knacks for Ladies - J. Dowland (Vo, M & G)</li>
<li>Se Florindo e Fedele - A. Scarlatti (Vo, M & G)</li>
<li>Elegie - E. Satie (Vo & G)</li>
<li>La Statue de Bronze - E. Satie (Vo, M & G)</li>
<li>Pastorale - I. Stravinsky (Vo, M & G)</li>
<li>Sari Gelin - Folk Song (M & G)</li>
<li>Schafe Können Sicher Weiden (from Hunting Cantata) - J.S. Bach (M, Vn, Vo & G)</li>
</ol>
<br />
<br />
A=Andes, M=Melodica, G=Guitar, U=Ukulele, Vn=Violin, Vo=Voice(Mezzo Soprano), C=Cajon, P=Piano<br />
<br />
Performers:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Viola da Cunha (Mezzo Soprano)<br />
Ayumi Toyama (Piano/Melodica/Andes)<br />
Junko Ishigaki (Violin)<br />
Ryusuke Koarashi (Guitar/Ukulele)<br />
Satomi Hori (Cajon)<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</blockquote>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-89533240210185748662019-02-17T16:53:00.002+00:002019-02-17T17:09:18.769+00:00After the Tea Time Concert at AGE UKPocket Penguin(s) performed for a tea time concert at AGE UK. There were about 50 elderly people and we could play in a very warm and nice atmosphere. We especially enjoyed their participation with singing for Hymn from Jupiter. Thank you very much and we hope to come back again.<br />
<br />
Date: 14th Feb, 2019 (Thu)<br />
Venue: AGE UK<br />
<br />
Performers:<br />
Ayumi Toyama (Piano/Melodica)<br />
Ryusuke Koarashi (Guitar/Melodica)<br />
Junko Ishigaki (Violin)<br />
<br />
Programme:<br />
<br />
Part I<br />
1. Sonatine Op. 70 - A. Diabelli (P, G & V)<br />
2. A Bird Flying Over Mountains - R Koarashi (G & V)<br />
3. Romanian Folk Dances - B. Bartok (G & V)<br />
i. Stick Dance<br />
ii. Sash Dance<br />
iii. In One Spot<br />
iv. Dance from Buscum<br />
v. Romanian Polka<br />
vi. Fast Dace<br />
4. Four Short Pieces for Violin and Piano - F. Bridge (V & P)<br />
i. Meditation<br />
ii. Spring Song<br />
iii. Lullaby<br />
iv. Country Dance<br />
<br />
Part II<br />
1. La Cumparsita - G.M.Rodriguez (M, G & V)<br />
2. Hymn from Jupiter - G. Holst (M, M & V)<br />
3. Pachelbel Canon - J. Pachelbel (M, G & V)<br />
4. Libertango - A. Piazzolla (M, G & V)<br />
<div>
<br />
M=Melodica, G=Guitar, V=Violin, P=Piano</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-90888897072410427622019-02-17T16:38:00.002+00:002019-02-17T16:53:54.788+00:00After the Concert at St Mary Church in FinchleyThank you for coming all the way. We really had a great time to perform and hope you all enjoyed as well.<br />
<br />
Date: 9th Feb (SAT)<br />
Venue: St Mary Church at Finchley<br />
Hendon Lane, London N3 1TR<br />
<br />
Performers: <br />
Ayumi Toyama (Piano/Melodica) <br />
Ryusuke Koarashi (Guitar/Melodica) <br />
Junko Ishigaki (Violin) <br />
<br />
Programme:<br />
<br />
Part I<br />
<br />
1. Sonatine Op. 70 - A. Diabelli (P, G & V)<br />
2. A Bird Flying Over Mountains - R Koarashi (G & V)<br />
3. Le Montagnard - N. Coste (G & V)<br />
4. Four Short Pieces for Violin and Piano - F. Bridge (V & P)<br />
i. Meditation<br />
ii. Spring Song<br />
iii. Lullaby<br />
iv. Country Dance<br />
<br />
Part II<br />
<br />
1. Jangi - U. Hajibeyov (M & G)<br />
2. Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring - J.S. Bach (M & G)<br />
3. La Cumparsita - G.M.Rodriguez (M, G & V)<br />
4. Romanian Folk Dances - B. Bartok (G & V)<br />
i. Stick Dance<br />
ii. Sash Dance<br />
iii. In One Spot<br />
iv. Dance from Buscum<br />
v. Romanian Polka<br />
vi. Fast Dace<br />
5. Londonderry Air - Irish Trad. (M & G)<br />
6. Hymn from Jupitar - G. Holst (M, M & V)<br />
7. Pachelbel Canon - J. Pachelbel (M, G & V)<br />
8. Libertango - A. Piazzolla (M, G & V)<br />
<br />
M=Melodica, G=Guitar, V=Violin, P=Piano<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BecjFfp-96U/XGmNIpUBl5I/AAAAAAAAEGg/igALT79JBXg5zhQFFntLBm4JAn_92HjQgCLcBGAs/s1600/Screen-Shot-2019-02-17-at-16.27.03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1440" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BecjFfp-96U/XGmNIpUBl5I/AAAAAAAAEGg/igALT79JBXg5zhQFFntLBm4JAn_92HjQgCLcBGAs/s640/Screen-Shot-2019-02-17-at-16.27.03.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-41678795292893451932019-02-03T23:42:00.000+00:002019-02-09T00:29:48.687+00:00Pocket Penguin(s) Concert on 9th Feb 2019Pocket Penguin will be performing with a violinist, Junko Ishigaki. Hope to see you there.<br />
<br />
<div>
Date: 9th Feb (SAT)<br />
Start: 6:30pm <br />
Venue: St Mary Church at Finchley<br />
Hendon Lane, London N3 1TR<br />
(please do not go to church hall it will be held in CHURCH!)<br />
Admission: Free (donations are welcome)<br />
<br />
Performers:<br />
Ayumi Toyama (Piano/Melodica)<br />
Junko Ishigaki (Violin)<br />
Ryusuke Koarashi (Guitar)<br />
<br />
Programme: <br />
Trio for Violin, Guitar and Piano Op 70 (A. Diabelli)<br />
Romanian Folk Dances for Violin and Guitar (B. Bartok)<br />
Four Short Pieces for Violin and Piano (F. Bridge) Canon in D for Violin Guitar and Melodica (Pachelbel)<br />
and more.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SqZRFy5DE1U/XF4QIvUDsfI/AAAAAAAAAaY/RSGYHeVZH34VGr5Z2CxRmDClt9cLOyXAQCEwYBhgL/s1600/pocket-penguins-live-flyer-2019-02.jpg"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-SqZRFy5DE1U/XF4QIvUDsfI/AAAAAAAAAaY/RSGYHeVZH34VGr5Z2CxRmDClt9cLOyXAQCEwYBhgL/s640/pocket-penguins-live-flyer-2019-02.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-49113956009071111532015-04-22T13:26:00.000+01:002016-10-20T13:27:25.099+01:00Melodica Club Concert in May, 2015Melodica club is going to have a concert in next month. The programme will include repertoires in quite diverse styles as Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Film, Jazz, Bossa nova, and more.<br /><br />Fee: Admission Free (Donation Only) Free drinks will be provided.<br />No under 5s.<br /><br />Performers: Ayumi, Ryusuke, Rika, Yumiko, Satomi (Melodica, Guitar, Vocal)<br /><br />Date: 17th May 2015 (SUN) 14:00 -15:30<br /><br />Venue: Holy Trinity East Finchley Church<br />Church Lane, East Finchley<br />London N2 0TH<br /><br />Contact: ukmelodica@gmail.comUnknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-84220392781815271382015-03-20T13:24:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:27:57.529+01:00Arrangement Score of ‘The Merry-Go-Round of Life’<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YxJKF6Ej5s8/WAi3wDc9PfI/AAAAAAAAB1A/p9MvT2WSG9YQl9UIsFv7hC1tY_1Z60kegCK4B/s1600/Jo-Hisaishi-Merry-Go-Round-Of-Life-sample-212x300.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YxJKF6Ej5s8/WAi3wDc9PfI/AAAAAAAAB1A/p9MvT2WSG9YQl9UIsFv7hC1tY_1Z60kegCK4B/s400/Jo-Hisaishi-Merry-Go-Round-Of-Life-sample-212x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The score of ‘The Merry-Go-Round of Life’ also became available to purchase from <a href="http://www.dojinongaku.com/contents/goods_detail.php?goid=28022">here</a> (Japanese). This piece is asked to arrange by a member of Melodica club to include in the ensemble’s repertoire. I arranged it rather polyphonically as well as <a href="http://duo.penguinistan.com/arrangement-score-of-carrying-you/">Carrying You</a>, to make it idiomatically more effective and enjoyable for all the players. Three parts seem to work very good for melodica ensemble, when the register of the instrument is quite limited and the timbre is very sharp and prominent—that can crush in their overtones making a dissonance, whilst three is the minimum number that still can keep “triadic structure”.<br />
<br />
Please feel free to ask us if you have a problem for purchasing with their translation of Japanese.<br />
<div>
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o7mHmbjZYs8?rel=0" style="background: transparent; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Related Article - <a href="http://duopenguin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/joe-hisaishi-merry-go-round-of-life-for.html">Joe Hisaishi – The Merry Go Round of Life, for Three Melodicas</a></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-13581182793961232652015-03-20T13:21:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:27:57.515+01:00Arrangement Score of Carrying You<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Psnsx4knFqw/WAi2TlDeolI/AAAAAAAAB00/iOUwD1lQBx8cdODYHJ6atHWFsNUOIavjgCK4B/s1600/Jo-Hisaishi-Carrying-You-sample-212x300.jpg"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Psnsx4knFqw/WAi2TlDeolI/AAAAAAAAB00/iOUwD1lQBx8cdODYHJ6atHWFsNUOIavjgCK4B/s400/Jo-Hisaishi-Carrying-You-sample-212x300.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
The score of ‘Carrying You’ became available from <a href="http://www.dojinongaku.com/contents/goods_detail.php?goid=28025">here</a> (Japanese). I initially started to arrange this piece for our students (kids) to play, but as it eventually became a little more complex beyond their ability, it is played by Melodica ensemble that we organise in London. The original texture by the composer, Jo Hisaishi is rather monophonic—melody + accompaniment, but I made it more polyphonic using devices such as counterpoint, imitation that seems idiomatically more effective for melodica ensemble. And that might be more enjoyable for multi-players. Please feel free to ask us if you have a problem for purchasing with their translation of Japanese.<br />
<br />
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F5c37W_xyTE?rel=0" style="background: transparent; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="560"></iframe></div>
Related Article – <a href="http://duopenguin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/carrying-you-for-three-melodicas.html">Carrying you, for three melodicas</a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-6448292010648534312015-01-25T13:18:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:18:43.940+01:00Wooden MelodicaFrom the end of 2014 to the beginning of 2015, Ryusuke was back in his hometown in Japan after two years. It was snowing heavily there. After finishing concerts in Aichi, he spent his time for making melodica’s cover of wood with his fathers help. We have been very interested in using different material, especially wood, for melodica, Ryusuke once tried to make a wooden cover in London in 2013, however we did not have enough tools and good material either, so he eventually stopped just before completing. Wood is probably the one of the most popular and general material for making musical instrument, even in when we can choose from most diverse materials. Currently (Jan 2015) most of the melodica on the market are made of ABS, but on the other hand, the wood pattern design on Hammond 44 or PRO-32 V2 by Suzuki seems to represent an admiration for the material by the maker or performers.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZwSchK1iTM/WAi14l8umCI/AAAAAAAAB0c/yziZkFove1Eb2ygKeP-FQL5Mi8zykicQgCK4B/s1600/miyama-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rZwSchK1iTM/WAi14l8umCI/AAAAAAAAB0c/yziZkFove1Eb2ygKeP-FQL5Mi8zykicQgCK4B/s400/miyama-300x225.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
There were several wooden boards propped against the wall of his father’s studio, the wood we chose for this time was probably around 100 years old counting its dense grain, perhaps a kind of Hinoki—a Japanese (or taiwanese?) cypress, but it does not have Hinoki’s characteristic fragrance very much. According to Ryusuke’s father, the material has been there in the studio when the town was flooded in 2004, so at least for ten years.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qN0T7x1dllQ/WAi1-DkXH6I/AAAAAAAAB0k/TjViZlSZOyU6Pb8SYELmwi2YnAFoxDiKwCK4B/s1600/studio-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qN0T7x1dllQ/WAi1-DkXH6I/AAAAAAAAB0k/TjViZlSZOyU6Pb8SYELmwi2YnAFoxDiKwCK4B/s400/studio-300x225.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
It is very hard to make melodica from the scratch, so this time we just made the outside cover with ready-made one(inside). The working process eventually took 5-6 days. The first thing the sound tells us is that the reed decisively determines the timbral tendency that is not changed fundamentally by the outside cover. The second thing is that the wood may not always produce good, or desirable tone, even plastics might do better (here we are not saying the result of wood was bad). The tone heavily depends on what wood it is (obviously wooden material is hugely diverse), and its structure. Mere 1mm can make considerable difference on harmonic structure. Perhaps Using wood as a single material is not enough, but perhaps mixing different material is needed to reduce unnecessary harmonics. Such thing is presumably obvious for maker/player of concertina—an free reed instrument belonging in same family with Melodica, they have been making very much elaboration to acquire their desirable sound.<br />
<br />
Throughout making, there remains many subjects on structure and material, but the timbre came to close to what we want, so we are satisfied as the first work. Regarding its timbre, we heard several people resembles it an organ (Reed organs were used for music class in primary school in Japan).<br />
<br />
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NycgVXEnS5w/WAi2BUnxqVI/AAAAAAAAB0s/4hoojmueNK4rB6BoqefnnXF2s_jG7UZUACK4B/s1600/wooden-melodica-300x225.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NycgVXEnS5w/WAi2BUnxqVI/AAAAAAAAB0s/4hoojmueNK4rB6BoqefnnXF2s_jG7UZUACK4B/s400/wooden-melodica-300x225.jpg" /></a><br />
<br />
The details about its timbre will be in later article.<br />
<br />
—Ryusuke KoarashiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-27613244937569301092015-01-22T13:15:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:27:25.081+01:00El Cóndor Pasa for Melodica TrioEl Cóndor Pasa is a famous Peruvian song composed by Daniel Alomía Robles. The transient modulation in the last section is an idea from Raúl Mercado’s version.<div>
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Arranged by Ryusuke Koarashi<br /><br />Performers (London Melodica Club):<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
Yumiko Shiratori<br />Ayumi Toyama<br />Ryusuke Koarashi</blockquote>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-37390817810190183042015-01-22T13:14:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:15:06.075+01:00Numbness in left hand<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We have not mentioned to anyone, but actually Ayumi suffered from an idiopathic numbness in her left hand for a long period in 2014. She recovered only recently. As we would have some performances around the end of the year, Ryusuke had to make repertoires which do not sacrifice her hand in the trouble.</div>
<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
The repertoire of Pocket Penguin—Duo Penguinistan has been made for two hands basically. Playing various kinds of music in Duo—a minimum format of ensemble—often requires many notes/voices that are not capable by just one hand. There is a way to hold the instrument vertically as many melodica players do for satisfying audience’s eyes by showing their hands and keys, but we don’t. In most cases we prefer to hold it horizontally such as a piano player, since it enables much more flexibility for both hands and it can respond to technical demands in our repertoire.</div>
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Melodica is a polyphonic instrument that is able to produce multi voices simultaneously. However, the independency of voices is limited. For instance, when one plays two notes, Each volume of them is different—the lower note is always louder. Releasing one key while playing two notes, the volume of another note gets suddenly louder. And of course using more keys needs more breathing. These characteristics of melodica has been often annoying us on playing and especially arranging, requiring to find notes which does not impair the balance of volume, and to ensure the space to breathe.</div>
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By the way, last year we started melodica ensemble club in London. There we can play multi parts together easily which I had to do alone. Thus we can overcome the technical limitation, get more options on arranging. Moreover the separation of each voice part is desirably clearer.</div>
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Throughout the experience in ensemble, and the trouble of hand, we are getting to see the limitation and character of solo playing or playing in duo. If music has a space for many people to join in, it is better to do so, one does not need to do everything alone.</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-2990103381757921172015-01-18T13:13:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:27:25.086+01:00WE ARE! by Melodica TrioWe mentioned in <a href="http://duopenguin.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/joe-hisaishi-merry-go-round-of-life-for.html">an article</a> before, we are running a melodica ensemble in London. One year has just passed since we started. The piece uploaded this time, ‘We Are’ is one of the ensemble’s repertoires, an opening song from a Japanese animation ‘One Piece’ (by the way, we are not playing only animation songs, in case you think so). One of the members suggested to include the piece in the repertoire and Ryusuke rearranged for three parts. For melodica that has only a limited register and strong harmonics—often crush in harmony, three may be an appropriate number of parts, that gets a richness in sound and can still keep a clarity in texture.<div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6U-BDVPn31U?rel=0" style="background: transparent; border-style: initial; border-width: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="560"></iframe></div>
We Are!<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
Lyrics: Syoko Fujibayashi<br />Composed by kouhei Tanaka<br />Arranged by Ryusuke Koarashi</blockquote>
Performer:</div>
<div>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Yumiko Shiratori<br />Satomi Hori<br />Ryusuke Koarashi</blockquote>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-75351821850196023212014-12-24T13:05:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:05:47.685+01:002014 Christmas concert at Komorebi Hall in Obu-cityDuo Penguinistan successfully finished a Christmas concert at Komorebi hall in Obu-city Aichi, Japan. Komorebi hall is brand-new—it was opened only in last July, we feel privileged to be the first guitarist and melodica player there. The venue is formal, but still cozy and has a lovely acoustics for our small instruments. We are very grateful for the audience to be in the concert, the help of the truly great staff, and the director who gave us this great opportunity.<br /><br /><br />Programme:<br /><br />Part I<br /><ol>
<li>Christmas Carol : We Wish a Merry Christmas</li>
<li>Catalan Christmas Carol : 1. El Noy De La Mare 2. La Nit De Nadal 3. La Filadora</li>
<li>Bela Bartok : Romanian Christmas Carols Series I</li>
<li>John Frederick Coots & Haven Gillespie : Santa Claus is Coming to Town</li>
<li>Robert Wells & Mel Tormé : The Christmas Song</li>
<li>Vittorio Monti : Czardas</li>
<li>Ryusuke Koarashi : Foreign Hill</li>
</ol>
<br />Part II<br /><ol>
<li>Bulgarian Folk Song : 1. Vido, Vido, Byala Vido 2. Dilmano Dilbero</li>
<li>Christmas Carol : Silent Night</li>
<li>J.S. Bach:Jesus, Joy of Man’s Desiring</li>
<li>Irish Traditional : 1. Irish Medley (The Road to Lisdoonvarna, The Swallowtail Jig and The Swallowtail Reel) 2. Londonderry Air</li>
<li>English Christmas Carol : The First Noel</li>
<li>Ryusuke Koarashi : Çok Güzeller</li>
</ol>
<br />Encore<br /><ol>
<li>Yoshihide Otomo : The Opening Theme of Amachan</li>
<li>Johnny Marks : Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer</li>
</ol>
<br />Performer:<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Ayumi Toyama: Melodica<br />Ryusuke Koarashi: Guitar, Melodica</blockquote>
<br />— 23th Dec, 2014Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-16468978198359804572014-12-24T13:03:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:04:07.525+01:00A Mini Concert at Aichi Children’s Health and Medical CenterWe had a mini (Christmas) concert for children at Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Center. It was only 30min, but we did enjoy the nice, intimate atmosphere with them.<br /><ol>
<li>Yoshihide Otomo : The Opening Theme of Amachan</li>
<li>Irish Medley (The Road to Lisdoonvarna, The Swallowtail Jig and The Swallowtail Reel)</li>
<li>(The Road to Lisdoonvarna, The Swallowtail Jig and The Swallowtail Reel)</li>
<li>Christmas Carol : Silent Night</li>
<li>Polish – Clarinet Polka</li>
<li>English Christmas Carol : The First Noel</li>
<li>Johnny Marks : Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer</li>
</ol>
Performer:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
Ayumi Toyama: Melodica<br />Ryusuke Koarashi: Guitar, Melodica</blockquote>
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOCyeLNmX8o/WAiymu5EPdI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/yXhsqBdXzdsc9tBcFD-c20Pxs5MSLhjggCK4B/s1600/aichi-hospital-1-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-WOCyeLNmX8o/WAiymu5EPdI/AAAAAAAAB0Q/yXhsqBdXzdsc9tBcFD-c20Pxs5MSLhjggCK4B/s400/aichi-hospital-1-225x300.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aACCxEQzrmc/WAiymRW64PI/AAAAAAAAB0I/z5L5Dx-QdCENAtQtmKawHePupJUw1IFwACK4B/s1600/aichi-hospital-2-224x300.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aACCxEQzrmc/WAiymRW64PI/AAAAAAAAB0I/z5L5Dx-QdCENAtQtmKawHePupJUw1IFwACK4B/s400/aichi-hospital-2-224x300.jpg" /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-1731333201043319832014-12-12T13:00:00.000+00:002016-10-20T13:00:32.086+01:00Christmas Concert at a Primary SchoolDuo, with a wonderful vocalist & melodica player—Rika Legum, had a Christmas concert for kids and their parents at Parkfield Primary School. Thank you all for coming, we really enjoyed the performance.<br /><br />Programme:<br /><ol>
<li>We Wish You a Merry Christmas — English Carol</li>
<li>Jingle Bell — James Lord Pierpont</li>
<li>Rondeau — Henry Pucell</li>
<li>A Hymn from Jupiter — Gustav Holst</li>
<li>Santa Baby — Joan Javits & Philip Springer</li>
<li>God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen — English Carol</li>
<li>Silent Night — Franz Xaver Gruber</li>
</ol>
<br />Performers:<br /><blockquote class="tr_bq">
Rika Legum (Vocal, Melodica, Drum)<br />Ayumi Toyama (Melodica)<br />Ryusuke Koarashi (Guitar, Melodica)</blockquote>
— 11th Dec, 2014<div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7RG43Cp_bg/WAixjzwc4mI/AAAAAAAABz8/L4erMf9F1PsiE-mSL8furVoaLqWkeK0dgCK4B/s1600/%25E5%2586%2599%25E7%259C%259F-4-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-A7RG43Cp_bg/WAixjzwc4mI/AAAAAAAABz8/L4erMf9F1PsiE-mSL8furVoaLqWkeK0dgCK4B/s400/%25E5%2586%2599%25E7%259C%259F-4-225x300.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkFFQFW65dk/WAixjwTbMEI/AAAAAAAABz0/QyrvyUnGWNAOZVzCg65R442wyDJdKPwQgCK4B/s1600/%25E5%2586%2599%25E7%259C%259F-3-225x300.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkFFQFW65dk/WAixjwTbMEI/AAAAAAAABz0/QyrvyUnGWNAOZVzCg65R442wyDJdKPwQgCK4B/s400/%25E5%2586%2599%25E7%259C%259F-3-225x300.jpg" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-71306341810710560572014-11-23T12:56:00.000+00:002016-10-20T12:56:55.517+01:00Announcement for Concert at Holy Trinity Church, 6th DecDuo Penguinistan is going to perform next week in London.<br /><br />Performer:<br />Ayumi Toyama (Melodica)<br />Ryusuke Koarashi (Guitar, Melodica)<br /><br />The Programme will include:<br />Thomas Morley, Christmas Songs from Catalonia, Irish traditional pieces, and others.<br /><br />Date: 6th Dec (Sat) 7pm<br />Venue: Holy Trinity Church, Church Lane, London N2 0TH<br />Admission: Free (Donation)<br /><br />Free Drinks will be provided.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-21151163445579414862014-10-18T12:55:00.000+01:002016-10-20T12:56:03.559+01:00Rain Dance by Ross Edwards, Played on MelodicaRain Dance, composed by Ross Edwards in 1978, originally for two recorders. This short piece features Hemiolic rhythm—juxtaposition of 3/4 and 6/8, and uses pitch materials similar to a Japanese scale called Miyako-Bushi Onkai. For more information regarding the composer & the piece, please click <a href="http://www.orpheusmusic.com.au/content/17-ross-edwards-profile">here</a>.<div>
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Ayumi Toyama & Ryusuke Koarashi: Melodica</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-32402667799140121012014-10-12T12:53:00.000+01:002016-10-20T12:54:47.652+01:00Carrying You, for Three Melodicas<div class="entry-content" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 12px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Carrying You, theme song from a popular animation film ‘Castle in the Sky’, arranged for 3 Melodicas.<br />
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Composed by Joe Hisaishi<br />
Arranged by Ryusuke Koarashi<br />
Melodica perfomed by Ayumi Toyama<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-78074769612363457482014-10-08T12:51:00.000+01:002016-10-20T13:27:57.525+01:00Score: We Wish You a Merry Christmas, for 2 Melodicas & GuitarWe Wish You a Merry Christmas, arranged for 2 melodicas and guitar, became purchasable from <a href="https://gumroad.com/l/wewishyouamerrychristmas">here (English)</a> or <a href="http://www.dojinongaku.com/contents/goods_detail.php?goid=25156">here (Japanese)</a>. For those who are looking for a novel repertoire of Christmas, this may be what you want. The arrangement was originally requested by our student, so technical difficulties were mostly avoided. The point for arranging was an interplay between instruments (especially two melodicas) with changing textures, avoiding just to repeat same material many times. So the theme is played differently each time. Melodica parts can be played alternatively by violin. The sample movie is available on youtube.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-32297355587148460912014-10-05T12:51:00.000+01:002016-10-20T13:12:38.725+01:00Joe Hisaishi – The Merry Go Round of Life, for Three Melodicas<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
We have been running a club called ‘Melodica Club’ since January. The club is dedicated to enjoy melodica ensemble in multiple parts, and to find different capability of the instrument.<br />
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We have been working a lot on arranging and searching for new repertoire for this club, and gained considerable numbers ranging from Renaissance to contemporary. ‘Merry-Go-Round of Life’ is one of those repertoire of us, a theme from an animation film called ‘Howl’s Moving Castle’, included by a member’s request in the club. Ryusuke arranged it for three parts, and Ayumi performed all the parts for this recording. We hope you will enjoy it.<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-4913982288467050712014-09-05T12:50:00.000+01:002016-10-20T12:50:21.144+01:00Bela Bartok – HÁROM CSÍK MEGYEI NÉPDAL (Melodica & Guitar)<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Posted a video on youtube, a performance at Bath International Music Festival in 2013. This piece, Three Hungarian folk songs from Csik, by Bartok is included in the first album.<br />
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Melodica: Ayumi Toyama<br />
Guitar: Ryusuke KoarashiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-16415075699525423032014-07-13T12:49:00.000+01:002016-10-20T12:49:30.266+01:00Concert at East Finchley Methodist ChurchEast Finchley Methodist Church<br />Sunday, 13th July 2014, 19:30-21:30<br /><br />Performers:<br /><ul>
<li>Viola da Cunha: mezzo soprano</li>
<li>Yuki Osedo: piano</li>
<li>Ayumi Toyama: melodica</li>
<li>Ryusuke Koarashi: guitar</li>
</ul>
<br />Programme (of us):<br /><ul>
<li>Scarlatti — Se Florindo e Fedele</li>
<li>Dowland — Come Again, Fine Knacks for Ladies</li>
<li>Stravinsky — Pastrale</li>
<li>Monnot — Hymne a’ L’amour</li>
<li>Monti — Czardas</li>
<li>Montsalvatge — Cuba Dentro de un Piano, Punto de Habanera</li>
</ul>
<br />Great audiences.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-87173584251879502402014-07-11T12:47:00.000+01:002016-10-20T12:47:48.681+01:00re-namedDear people,<br /><br />Please notice that we have recently changed our name from Pocket Penguin to Duo Penguinistan (or “Duo Penguinistanica”, with Latin suffix), and duo.penguinistan.com is the new URL of our website.<br /><br />PenguinistanisUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-64719363577090094882014-05-24T12:45:00.000+01:002016-10-20T12:46:57.039+01:00Bath International Music Festival 2014Date: 16th May (FRI)<br />Time: 19:40 – 20:10<br />Venue: Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street Bath, BA2 4DB<br /><br />Programme:<br /><ul>
<li>Veysel – Uzun İnce Bir Yoldayım</li>
<li>Koarashi – Çok Güzeller</li>
<li>Sakata – Oshin</li>
<li>Koarashi – Crippled Jig</li>
<li>Bach – BWV147</li>
<li>Koarashi – A Bird Flying Over Mountains</li>
<li>Bulgarian Folk – Kopanitsa</li>
</ul>
<br />Performer:<br /><ul>
<li>Ayumi Toyama: Melodica</li>
<li>Ryusuke Koarashi: Guitar</li>
</ul>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-15776847515559876002014-03-25T12:44:00.000+00:002016-10-20T12:45:22.432+01:00Fragments of Dreams 11th April 2013<div style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, "Bitstream Charter", serif; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
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Fragments of Dreams 11th April 2013, composed by Ryusuke Koarashi<br />
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Melodica: Ayumi Toyama<br />
Guitar: Ryusuke KoarashiUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-839650198712486258.post-49639795663245693092014-03-05T12:43:00.000+00:002016-10-20T12:44:08.204+01:00Melodica Comparison, Before and After RepairingMost of professional melodica players do adjust or repair their instrument for fulfilling their musical requirement, and so we do. Last November, we had repaired about 10 melodicas of students who bought newly for playing in ensemble. With two of those instruments, we made two videos of comparison before and after repairing to check how different they are.<br />
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Melodicas used in the video are products by Stagg, a Belgian manufacturer that produces musical instrument at a reasonable price, possibly the cheapest ones we can buy in the UK. The structure of the instrument is same to Hohner’s, so those have similar timbres. Two melodicas (Blue and Black) in the video have identical form, but the material of the reeds is different.<br />
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The example of the short piece is “<a href="http://duo.penguinistan.com/oshins-theme-with-melodica-guitar/">OSHIN’s Theme</a>“. Did you get the differences?<br />
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Here we had improved three points by repairing.<br />
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1. Response<br />
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When melodica needs too much blowing in for making a sound, we say the response is bad/slow. Most of the newly bought melodicas do not respond good usually, some keys need much effort to blow in, since the reeds are not adjusted appropriately. You can hear it in the video that some notes are very much delayed, sometimes even does not come out especially when playing soft sound or chords.<br />
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2. Reduction of key noise<br />
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There are some causes of making key noises, and some solutions to each of them. Here we mend only a noise which is caused by key touching the bottom. Sometimes we use the key noise for adding an attack to the sound but it depends on how much it is and how the quality is.<br />
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3. Reduction of spring noise<br />
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Keys of melodica put back in its place by small springs, but it is a cause of noise, do you hear a high, continuous sound like a reverb in the video? that is the spring noise.<br />
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These three points are very basic ones where the repair could be easily done for just 30 min to 1hour, but still may be very effective as you can see in the video. (We should adjust the pitch as well, but it takes much more time and cost, so this time did only for a few melodica students really wanted to do.)Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0