Program Notes

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I love to fly fish and compose music. While working through ideas for a Grade 1-2 piece for band, I sketched various combinations harmonically and melodically of the first six notes of the Bb major scale. I was drawn to a pentatonic setting and began writing. With the pentatonic sound in mind, I began researching for a title and soon found an article about the Yozawa Fly Fishing Stream in Japan. My love for both fly fishing and composing is combined in this present work, “Yozawa”.

 

I want to thank Leonard Narumi for his generous help and research about the title “Yozawa” and his sharing the history and background of the Manzanar Fishing Club.

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Comments

"It is a wonderful composition, Stephen! A masterfully composed piece that belies its Grade 1.5-2 level of difficulty. Bravo!!" - Leonard Narumi 

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