Wayfinder — Viola Concerto by Dai Fujikura

Wayfinder (2020) is Dai Fujikura’s viola concerto inspired by Polynesian wayfinding / star navigation. The concerto was commissioned by Leilehua Lanzilotti with the generous support of Elizabeth & Justus Schlichting.

ヴィオラ協奏曲 「Wayfinder」は、藤倉大が作曲した、新しいヴィオラ協奏曲です

ヴィオラ協奏曲 「Wayfinder」は、藤倉大が作曲した、新しいヴィオラ協奏曲です。ヴィオリスト、Leilehua Lanzilotti のために書かれました。

この協奏曲はポリネシアのウェイファインディング/スターナビゲーション(天体観測、海流や波浪の観測、生物相の観察、風向の観測などから自らの現在位置と方向を推測する航法技術) のアイデアに触発され、作曲されました。 

なお、この作品は、ジャストゥス・シュリヒティング氏と妻のエリザベスのスポンサーにより、委嘱されました。

Polynesian Navigational Techniques: Wayfinding

Wayfinding, or Polynesian navigational techniques includes star navigation, reading clouds and sea states, observing the flight paths of birds, and many other subtle observations in real time to navigate on ocean voyages. One of the greatest sources of pride for Hawaiians is the feat of reengaging with wayfinding—through the leadership of Nainoa Thompson. Thompson developed the modern star compass, and through study with master navigator Mau Pialug successfully reinvigorated the tradition of wayfinding in Hawaiʻi and around the Pacific.

In an article by my great-grandfather Samuel Wilder King written over a hundred years ago in the 34th Annual Report of the Hawaiian Historical Society (1925, 11-14), he describes how “the ancient Hawaiians had a splendid foundation in seamanship and navigation.” Before science confirmed what we know now about wayfinders, Hawaiians like him knew of these traditions through the language of their ancestors.

About the Composer: Dai Fujikura

Dai Fujikura is a composer based in London, UK. Born in Osaka, Japan, Dai moved to the UK when he was fifteen. He has been commissioned by major musical orchestras such as Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the BBC Proms. His work was greatly supported by the late Pierre Boulez, who commissioned Dai to write a work for the Lucerne Festival Academy and continued to program his work and encourage future commissions by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and Lucerne Festival.

It was through the Lucerne Festival Academy that Dai and I met—I volunteered to learn his viola and electronics work prism spectra for the Lucerne Festival Academy workshop with IRCAM in 2009, and contacted Dai about the piece. Two years later, he invited me to work on it with the engineer who had originally developed the electronics, Manuel Poletti, at IRCAM and then perform the work at Village Underground in London.

Dai runs his own record label Minabel where he releases recordings of his compositions in collaboration with SONY Music. He is published by Ricordi Berlin. For a complete bio, please visit his official website.

Premiere Performances

Saturday, March 16, 2024 — Leilehua Lanzilotti (viola), Keita Matsui (conductor), Nagoya Philharmonic at Forest Hall, Nagoya, Japan. Orchestral version: Viola solo + (2222, 2200, 1perc, strings)

Friday, March 15, 2024 — Leilehua Lanzilotti (viola), Keita Matsui (conductor), Nagoya Philharmonic at Forest Hall, Nagoya, Japan. World premiere of the orchestral version: Viola solo + (2222, 2200, 1perc, strings).

Saturday, July 16, 2022 — Leilehua Lanzilotti and Ensemble NOMAD, world premiere of the Ensemble Version, Born Creative Festival, Tokyo, Japan. Ensemble version: Viola solo + (1111/1100/1perc/2011). This engagement is supported by Mid Atlantic Arts through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. ボンクリ・フェス｜東京

Friday, July 15, 2022 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, live world premiere of Star Compass, “The Wayfinder Room,” Born Creative Festival, Tokyo, Japan. This engagement is supported by Mid Atlantic Arts through USArtists International in partnership with the National Endowment for the Arts and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. ボンクリ・フェス｜東京

Saturday, September 26, 2020 — Leilehua Lanzilotti, Alone at Noguchi, The Noguchi Museum, Long Island City, NY. Virtual world Premiere of Star Compass, the concerto for Wayfinder (and a standalone solo viola work).