Variations for Orchestra

The Variation for Orchestra was composed at the request of the Okayama University Sym- phony Orchestra in 1998. A melancolic theme is followed by five variations and the finale–a vigorous con fuoso; a con grazia with a beau- tiful obbligato of solo-violin; a giocoso with French hermonies; an alla marcia; a burlesco; and a mesto, a funeral march (finale). Emo- tional fortessimo phrases played by brass in- struments at the end of the finale evoke the word “lamentation”, which is given to the arrangement for wind orchestra of this work.

The finale is dedicated to a gifted composer Bin Kaneda, composer Hoshina’s close friend who died in 2002. Each composer composed a funeral march for the other, each teasing the other about which one would live longer. In 1986 Kaneda’s was first, and he composed “Ah!” for symphonic band and sent the score to Hoshina with a hand-written suffix “Hiroshi Hoshina” at the end of the printed title. Hoshina finally fulfilled his promise, com- posing “Lamentation To ─”, meaning “to Bin Kaneda” in 1998 for his arrangement for wind orchestra.