Etude I - VI

Toshi Hosokawa's Etude I-VI for piano includes all six of Hosokawa's etudes composed between 2011 and 2013. Hosokawa wxplains, "Piano is an instrument that was born from European Music, and it is an extremely difficult Instrument with which to express my musical language, which develops out of an Eastern mindset. These six studies are the 'etudes' I wrote in order to challenge myself to learn how to realise my own original music on the piano." The particular idea or aesthetic that led Hosokawa to compose each piece is laid bare in the music, and further described in ist subtitle. Because of the high technical demand of these etudes, they are ideal new repertoire for piano recitals. Etude I was composed as the required repertoire for the final at the 58th Ferruccio Busoni International Piano Competition in 2011, and the revised version (2012) was premiered by Kei Itoh. Etude II was commissioned by Chuden Real Estate Co., Inc. and premiered by Yu Kosuge. The last four pieces, Etudes III to VI were co-commissioned by Lucerne Festival, Tokyo Opera City Cultural Foundation, and Wigmore Hall (with the support of Andre Hoffmann, president of the Fondation Hoffmann). Momo Kodama performed all six etudes – giving the world premiere of III to VI – at the Lucerne Festival at the piano in November 2013.