The Storyteller: Concerto for Violin and String Orchestra (2011), by Korine Fujiwara
I. Prologue and Narrative 02:11
II. Adagio 14:01
III. Finale: Introduction-Allegro-Epilogue 23:42

Performed by Charles Wetherbee, violin; Chosei Komatsu, conductor; Central Aichi Symphony Orchestra; Nagoya, Japan, December 11, 2014

The Storytellers in our lives entertain us with colorful speech, evocative imagery, and palettes of sound illustrated by their words. They often seek to teach us about moral issues, practical issues, and life lessons, in forms of parable and folk tale. The traditions of storytelling exist in every culture, and for many families, it is a familiar bedtime ritual. This concerto is inspired in part by the haunting sounds of Kangen, a type of instrumental Gagaku (Japanese court music), and populated by a motley cast of characters from Japanese Folk Tales, including, but certainly not limited to The Daichi Sama and the Cicada, The Tongue-Cut Sparrow, The Little Runny-Nosed Boy, Momotaro, The Two Frogs, The Story of Willow, The Strawberry, Seizo’s Rabbit, The Woodsman and the Old Priest, as well as countless others, including horrible monsters posing as comely women, beautiful young heroines, invincible heroes, wicked step-parents, and a menagerie of talking animals and plants. Peppered among the ancient stories are the characters and creatures created by my favorite storyteller, my father, who, once upon a time, wove his own magical legends for my siblings and I together with the Japanese stories passed down to him. "The Storyteller" is dedicated to the memories of my father Karlo Fujiwara and my grandfather Rinney Fujiwara, the two greatest storytellers I have ever known. ~Korine Fujiwara 11 March 2012

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