Kizuna Frederick Speck

Band
Number of Players:Standard
Copyright:2006
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2/English Horn
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Bb Clarinet 1
Bb Clarinet 2
Bb Clarinet 3
Bass Clarinet
Contralto Clarinet in Eb
Alto Saxophone 1/2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone

Bb Trumpet 1
Bb Trumpet 2
Bb Trumpet 3
Horn 1/2
Horn 3/4
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Bass Trombone
Euphonium
Tuba

Double Bass

Timpani

Percussion 1 (Snare Drum, Mounted Tambourine, 3 Chinese Cymbals, 2 Woodblocks, Bamboo Wind Chimes, High Suspended Cymbal)

Percussion 2 (Sandpaper Blocks, Low Tam-Tam, 3 Suspended Cymbals, Brass Wind Chimes, 2 Woodblocks, Bass Drum, 4 Tom-Toms, Bells)

Percussion 3 (Vibraphone, Xylophone, 2 Woodblocks, Small Suspended Cymbal)

Percussion 4 (Marimba, Medium Suspended Cymbal, Large Tam-Tam, 4 Tom-Toms, Tambourine)
Kizuna was commissioned by Dennis Johnson, president of the World Association for Symphonic Bands and Ensembles for premiere performance by the Senzoku Gakuen College of Music Wind Ensemble (JAPAN) at the 2005 WASBE Conference in Singapore. Since the theme of the conference focused on the artistic confluence of eastern and western aesthetics, this idea became central to the expression of the work. As a result, the music commingles eastern and western nuances in tonal languages that freely embrace one another.

Though much of the work unfolds through solo passages that allow individual personalities to emerge, the music also develops a strong sense of physicality via several notable tutti sections, the strongest of which concludes the work. This process of joining together and gaining strength is reflected in the title, Kizuna, a Japanese word which describes a connection between people that results in the creation of a strong bond. It is derived from the roots ki' which means trees and zuna' or tsuna' which means ropes.