Go on a journey with Philharmonic Wind Orchestra to another world with ISEKAI, celebrating the vast and vibrant tapestry of Japanese pop culture through music.
“We’ve never explored a pop version of our Sounds of Japan series before, so we thought, why not try something fresh for the final concert of 2024? As the year comes to a close, we wanted to create an upbeat, fun experience to end off our concert season,” said Aaron Chua of PWO Artistic Planning Team.
“We asked ourselves: Which corner of Japanese pop culture should we dive into? Anime? Video games? Movies? And then we thought; why limit ourselves to just one? Each of these genres offers a different world, with layers upon layers of universes to explore. And that’s when the word ISEKAI appropriate.”
At the heart of the program curation is PWO’s desire to build a connection between wind music and its audience. Thus, one of the most exciting ways to do this is by presenting popular music that people are eager to hear live.
“We looked across a wide array of beloved Japanese anime, video games, and movies; some over recent years, some across time, and carefully selected pieces to ensure that there’s something for everyone, whether you’re a die-hard anime fan, video game otaku, or just love good wind band music,” he explained.
Accompanying PWO this Sunday are two soloists, namely Ryna Smile, an exceptional female vocalist from Japan, and Aniq Rusyaidi, a homegrown male talent well known for his contributions to the local Japanese pop cultural scene.
“This will be my second time performing with an wind orchestra in Victoria Concert Hall. I am very excited to be performing in such a historic concert hall and with such wonderful musicians from PWO,” said Ryna, who will be singing ‘Homura’ and ‘Gurenge’ from Kimetsu no Yaiba.
“What I feel these two songs have in common is that although life brings many trials, they convey a strong will to never give up on one’s dreams and to get back up again and again in order to achieve my mission, for the sake of those who support oneself. I relate to this spirit very much.”
Japanese pop culture is rich with musical diversity, ranging from heartfelt ballads to high-energy pop hits, and even symphonic rock that blends classical elements with rock, a style the Japanese do exceptionally well.
“By bringing together both Japanese and local talent, we’re not only celebrating the diverse genres of Japanese music but also symbolizing the friendship between Japan and Singapore, and the strong presence of Japanese culture in our local scene,” Aaron said.
Prepare for a musical feast, with iconic pieces from Final Fantasy, Demon Slayer, and Attack on Titan. PWO is also excited to present the Singapore premiere of Tsukumogami by renowned wind band composer John Mackey. Inspired by Japanese folklore, this exciting work will transport you into the intriguing and strange world of haunted objects.
“I’m pretty excited because I’ve always performed in a pop / rock band setting which doesn’t really require the orchestra instrumentation. The genre isn’t that foreign to me since I have learned about it in school and dabbled in music producing, but performing it is really something I’m looking forward to as it will be an experience,” Aniq said.
Aniq will be singing ‘Guren no Yumiya’ by himself and ‘Shinzou wo Sasageyou’ by Linked Horizon from the anime Attack on Titan along with Ryna. This brand-new wind band version is arranged by PWO concert master and arranger, Ralph Lim, where audiences may join in and add their voices to the stirring anthem.
“The songs suits my vibe of performing which is usually upbeat and fun. But if you ask me on a deeper level, they are very powerful songs that signify standing up and pushing forward together. This song rallies people and unify them, which makes it the unofficial national anthem in the anime scene. Everyone who knows the iconic sasageyo part will chant along while putting their fists to their chests. It’s really a beautiful sight to see when you’re performing on stage and the audience collectively stand proud and tall while singing that part.” he continued.
With such a diverse program, there’s something for everyone – whether you’re a fan of anime, video games, or simply love great music. Let Philharmonic Wind Orchestra and its conductor Dr Andy Sim take you on a musical adventure through many worlds – wonderful, strange, and unforgettable!
Sounds of Japan IV – 異世界~ISEKAI
Sunday, 24 November 2024
Victoria Concert Hall, 3.30pm and 7.30pm
$25, $35, $40
https://sg.bookmyshow.com/booking/PWISEKAI