Catholic Support

 

Tomoko was raised in a Protestant family, but she converted to Catholicism in college. In her case, Catholicism has been closely linked to education.

Tomoko wanted to emigrate to the United States to advance her career, and she had an opportunity to do soon after she graduated in Tokyo.

One of the stumbling blocks was money. With heart in her hand, Tomoko approached Father Belleau, a Dominican priest from Toronto. While studying at the university, Tomoko was an organist at the nearby church where Father Belleau served.  “Father, you have been so kind to my brother and me over the years. I have been so blessed to know you. Now I have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go to America to perform and study.” Dr. Belleau congratulated her warmly. Tomoko paused, breathed deeply, and soldiered on. “Do you think there is any way that the Church can help me find the funding to help pay for the flight?”   

Father Belleau closed his eyes in thoughtful prayer. “Let me discuss this request with the other clergy. God will find a way for you, I pray. ”True to his word, Father Belleau made an announcement at the following Mass when Tomoko was accompanying the service. “Our own organist Tomoko Hagiwara has been invited to the University of California Los Angeles to accompany Japanese opera singers. Our second collection will be given to Tomoko to help fund her flight. Please find it in your heart to donate to this worthy cause – and to thank Miss Hagiwara for her steadfast and wonderful playing. We will miss her.” 

Tomoko stayed after the service, thanking the congregation who remained after she finished the recessional. Nervously she waited as Father Belleau came up to her. “Tomoko, I am happy to say that the congregation was very generous. Here is enough money to pay for your flight.” Tomoko gasped, with grateful tears in her eyes. “I am so humbled,” Tomoko whispered. “You have been so kind and generous yourself, Father. I will always hold a special place in my heart for you.” With almost shaking hands, Tomoko accepted the envelope with the offering. “I thank you, the congregation and God for helping me make my dream come true.”

Gabriel Fauré and Tomoko

Tomoko asserts that at each decade in life, certain composers are particularly apt. For instance, Tomoko recommends Fauré for pianists in their thirties; “He is so elegant,” she says. Tomoko also likes to explore composers’ lives because it adds to the richness and context of the music. To that end, then, here are some aspects of Fauré that inform his works.

Gabriel Urbain Fauré was born in 1845 in southern France. One of six children, he was the only musically sibling. Upon advice and with the help of a scholarship, his father sent Gabriel to a boarding school for nine years to study music, mainly church music. However, when composer Camille Saint-Saëns took over piano studies, he introduced contemporary music and mentored Gabriel. 

Upon graduating, Gabriel served as a church organist and gave piano lessons. Soon the Franco-Prussian War began, and he volunteers to military service. After the war he taught in Switzerland, and then returned to Paris to serve as a choirmaster and later a church organist. Throughout his life he also taught, later in life more composition than performance; he was even appointed health of Paris Conservatoire.

Early on, Fauré promoted new French music as a founding member of the Société Nationale de Musique, which included important composers of the day. This networking – along with frequent travels where he connected with still more computers -- stimulated his own compositions, which were mainly for piano and for stringed instruments. He was influenced by Chopin, Mozart and Schumann in his early years. His harmonic and melodic style were innovative, and presaged Impressionist composers as well foreshadowed Schoenberg’s atonal compositions. He was also a master of the French art song. 

For her album Touria, Tomoko performed two of Fauré’s early impromptus and “Siciienne,” which was originally written for a theatrical production.  The three compositions all have a lightness of spirit, which would lighten the day for performers in their thirties.