If you attend a
recital planned by Tomoko, you will find that it is a bountiful event. Her
recitals reflect a strong sense of community and of giving. All the performers
give their all as they try to respect the composer, and give life to the
composition. The audience are both lovers of music and friends of Tomoko and
the performers.
Long before the
recital comes to life, Tomoko has carefully planted the seeds. As in a good
banquet, she chooses the piano pieces based on the performers, and she looks
for a stimulating balance of the various compositions. She looks for complementary
textures that play off each other, without overloading the sensory experience.
Tomoko also integrates families and friends into the
recital planning. They provide food and flowers, produce the playbill, manage
set-up and clean-up, and often record the performance for later enjoyment and
analysis.
On the day of the recital, people may arrive hours
ahead in order to set up the welcoming area, and bring in refreshments. Tomoko
graciously greets them, and like a conductor, helps each of them to play their
role. Of course, Tomoko’s main focus are the performers and their instruments. She
gives last-minute comments, and lets her students take center stage. The performers and audience all aim for the
same goal: to appreciate great music. To
experience its bounty.
The music lingers on in everyone’s memory, and that
sense of musical togetherness echoes as tables of food are shared. Music is
indeed food for the soul, and recitals make that experience indeed a sensual
banquet of life.
