Wind Orchestra, Japan Tour 2020
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A View into the Inspiration and Originality of the Upcoming Japan Tour Home Concert with Conductor James Ripley

By Haley Aichholzer ’21

 

For the past six years, the Carthage Wind Orchestra has gone to Japan on tour to perform their music. Dr. James Ripley, conductor of the orchestra, accompanied the group on their trip to Japan. Dr. Ripley conducts the Carthage Wind Orchestra, Carthage Band, and the chamber winds group AMATI. He also serves as principal guest conductor of the Sakuyo Wind Orchestra at Sakuyo University in Kurashiki, Japan. Upon returning to Kenosha, the Wind Orchestra will be holding a concert featuring music from their tour. The Japan Tour Home Concert consists of a variety of music including the North American premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s work written for the tour, “Shieldmaiden”. The concert will take place Sunday, January 26, at 2 p.m. in the A.F. Siebert Chapel.  This week, I had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Ripley to get insight into the Wind Orchestra’s time in Japan, the upcoming concert, and his inspirations as a conductor.

This coming January you and the Carthage Wind Orchestra will have taken your 6th trip to Japan. What are the most inspiring and influential parts of these trips?

The time spent in rehearsal and concert “side by side” with the various groups we perform with this certainly the most inspiring.  To see people from halfway around the globe sitting next to each other, reading the same notation, and bringing forth something beautiful is simply amazing.  Of course, our visits to Hiroshima have also been life-changing moments for everyone.

Since going on your first trip to Japan, what has changed over the years?

We are doing more touring now than when we first began our visits.  At that time we spent almost an entire week in residency at Sakuyo University in Kurashiki, and then would perform a concert there.  Now we have a 4-5 concert tour on our itinerary and only a couple of days at the University before our concert.

After returning from Japan, the Wind Orchestra will perform The Japan Tour Home Concert. What does this concert mean to you and the students who are performing in it?

This is actually great timing for us this year, as we get back just before the end of J-Term and will play our concert before the break.  It means we can bring the music to our community just a couple of days after we return to Kenosha.  It is really the culmination of the trip to play for our own friends and family.

In The Japan Tour Home Concert, which piece holds the most significance to you? Why?

A piece by David Reeves, called “Respite” takes on special meaning for us this year, as we play in remembrance of John Larsen, a 2019 graduate from Carthage and a beloved member of our percussion section.  It is a tremendously beautiful work, but also has elements of playfulness that brings that sense of “respite” in the loss of a friend.

Does the Wind Orchestra’s trip to Japan inspire elements of The Japan Tour Home Concert? If so, how?

We are playing a very energetic work called “Cyber Trip”, kind of like the fast paced world of our society, and our fascination with brief entertainments that we move to and from very quickly.  Our topic of study for the coursework is the changing roles of women in Japanese society, and in this case by studying a piece written by a woman composer in Japan - a rarity, still in 2019.

As part of the concert, the North American premiere of Jocelyn Hagen’s work, “Shieldmaiden”, will take place. Why is this piece so important and what does it represent?

The college, and our alumni, have commissioned this work for the 150th anniversary of women at Carthage celebration, and it will receive its World Premiere in Japan.  It portrays the imagery of the female Vikings, called “Shieldmaidens”, including an exciting battle sequence incorporating the sound of ancient brass instruments and battle cries!  It was written to honor the intrepid spirit of the first women of Carthage, and for the contributions of our students throughout the years.