Born in 1982, Hideaki Miura studied composition at the Tokyo music & media arts Shobi under Etsuo Kawasaki, Masataka Matsuo and Hideki Shinozaki. After graduating in March 2004, he has arranged wide genres of music for symphony orchestra, wind band, and commercial music as a professional composer. He is also a lecturer at Senzoku Gakuen College of Music.
Why did you become a composer and arranger?
When I was a high school student, I started undertaking arrangements for the wind band club that I belonged to. At the same time, I participated in a big band class for children, and was exposed to the compositions of Sammy Nestico. I realized that such exciting sounds could be written on sheet music, and I was inspired to become an arranger.
Do you have a particular style in composing music? Where do you get your influences from in your music?
I mainly write in the traditional classical style and basic popular jazz theory, but I am not too formal and freely write about various sounds that I think are good. I always find my favorites from all kinds of sounds on TV, radio, internet, background music in town, nature sounds, etc.
Some of your music such as Vocaloid Medley, AKB48 Medley and Japanese XIV ARASHI, are very popular in Singapore, and regularly performed by bands. What do you think about this?
It is a happy thing. I am especially happy that my arrangements themselves can be performed, and that these original Japanese music can be shared by the people of Singapore.
How has the COVID pandemic affected your life?
I basically stayed at home all the time writing music, so I was less directly affected, but it was sad to see my friends and students having a hard time because they could not play in the ensemble. It would have been better if the situation was still promising, but not knowing what the future holds for years to come was especially hard on the school band students who would be graduating in a very short period of their lives.
What do you feel is your favourite piece written so far, and why?
That is “Yosakoi-bushi” from Yamaha’s New Sounds in Brass 2017. It is a cover of a traditional Japanese folk song “Yosakoi-bushi” in a progressive metal style. I feel good that I was able to show new possibilities for popular music in wind band.
What are some of your newest arrangements? Can you talk about them?
This spring, Rocket Music released “Die Fledermaus Fantasy Overture”. This is a medley arrangement of the famous Johann Strauss operetta, but in a sound and structure like an overture to a Broadway musical. I like it very much.
Also, Wind Score recently released a flexible ensemble trio of my compositions titled “My Three Favorite Fruits”. It is a charming piece based on my daughter’s favorite fruits: melon, mandarin oranges, and strawberries, expressing these fruits with music.
Finally, do you have any advices for young composers?
Listen to a variety of music and find your favorites. Study music theory hard so that you can analyze it and incorporate it into your own style. It is fun to study multiple theories so that you can clearly understand the significance of each theory.
Most importantly, keep your body in good health so that you can keep writing a lot of music for a long time!
A contributing editor at TBP.
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