Gustavus Adolphus College music professor Masayoshi Ishikawa and taiko and shinobue performer Eien Hunter-Ishikawa have collaborated on a tribute that premieres today, on the 10th anniversary of the earthquake and tsunami that devastated the Tohoku area in the northeast region of Japan and was responsible for the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant meltdown.
The piece, titled Haseru –馳せる–, was composed by Ishikawa, who also plays piano, and features Hunter-Ishikawa performing on taiko and shinobue.
“We dedicate this music to those who have lost their lives in these disasters as well as all who have lost their loved ones and continue to face various difficulties,” Ishikawa said. “Our hearts are always with Tohoku and Fukushima.”
Ishikawa grew up in Fukushima and holds masters of music degrees in jazz composition from the University of South Florida and jazz piano performance from the University of North Colorado as well as a doctor of musical arts degree in composition from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He has taught at Gustavus since 2016 and was recognized by students with the College’s Swenson-Bunn Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence in 2017.
Hunter-Ishikawa was born in Japan and is based in Portland, Oregon. He works as a musician and educator and performs regularly with a variety of well-known taiko ensembles. Hunter-Ishikawa holds degrees in music from Central Michigan University and the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
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