To listen while following along with the score, click here: Nihon Petite Suite, Op. 171 │ Brass Quintet │ Dr. Daniel Thrower
Japan’s commercial culture may be described in a single word: cute. Every business has a cartoon mascot. Bright colors catch the eye at every store display. Ads (oh, the ads…) are dramatically over the top.
When my family moved to Tokyo in 2023, one of our first modern Japanese cultural experiences was similar to an American “dollar store,” which I cannot name here. That store became one of our favorite places to go if we wanted anything cheap and cute. And cue the toys! The store chain has a line of miniature interlocking blocks similar to Lego, but truly tiny. Each small set is 110 yen, which during our three-year stay equated to about $.75 USD each. I bought them all! No, not for my 10-year-old… for me. Thinking of my future grandchildren, of course, I dutifully built my collection, excited every time a new little set was released.
The sets are organized in series, such as “Train Series,” which includes mini models of the famous Shinkansen—Japanese bullet trains; and “Friends of the Sea,” with an orca, a blue whale spouting water, and a dolphin. I thought it would be fun to take the store’s four-note jingle and write a series of short movements based on the simple motif. It’s amazing what variety can be inspired from four simple notes. Each movement of this suite aurally depicts my take on the mood or feel of a series of mini building blocks:
Gilded Music Press specializes in brass music and pedagogical materials composed and crafted by Dr. Daniel Thrower. His expertise and experience in the music world are now available in printed or PDF format for the music world's benefit.
For questions, specific requests, or to commission a new work from Dr. Thrower, please contact us via email or phone, below.
"You and your compositions deserve first rate ensembles, they’re that good! It’s an honor to know you and, from time to time, celebrate your wonderful accomplishments."
Dr. Daniel N. Thrower
Owner
"Gilded Music Press" was created specifically to make Dr. Daniel Thrower's high-quality music available. Dr. Thrower has been composing music and writing educational supplements for decades. He describes his music as a "personal musical journal". From his work with military ensembles to faculty and students of all ages, his music and teaching materials are created to edify audiences, professional colleagues, students, and himself. Through "Gilded Music Press" the global music community benefits from his excellent research, experience, and creative output. Many have enjoyed and benefited from his work throughout the world, and you will too once you discover his phenomenal products!