about n.m.p.

next mushroom promotion (nmp)
next mushroom promotion (nmp) was founded in 2001 by composer Tomoko Fukui, with the support of clarinetist Nozomi Ueda. At that time, there were very few ensembles in the Kansai region dedicated to contemporary music, and the group was created with the aim of bringing this kind of music to a wider audience.

In its self-produced concerts, nmp has presented the works of leading composers such as JohnCage, Iannis Xenakis, Helmut Lachenmann, Vinko Globokar, Matthias Spahlinger, Toshio Hosokawa, Gerard Pesson, Mauricio Kagel, Francesco Filidei, StefanPrins, and Enno Poppe, etc. These programs often included a lecture and two or three portrait concerts of a single composer in one day. This thorough and uncompromising focus on individual composers drew significant attention. Several of these composers-Lachenmann, Hosokawa, Filidei, and Prins-have also taken part directly in our projects, giving lectures and working with the ensemble. Our Hosokawa program received the Suntory Ssaji Keizo MusicAward in 2005, a prize given annually to the group presenting the most challenging and accomplished concert program of the year.

From its very first concert, nmp’s daring programs-every time centered around Japanese premieres-have attracted enthusiastic support from contemporary music lovers across Japan. This response reflects our philosophy to revitalizing the music scene outside of Tokyo and to presenting rare, uncompromising works that even Tokyo audiences cannot easily hear. Our concerts regularly draw listeners from all over Japan, including the capital.

nmp has been invited as guest or resident ensemble to many festivals in Japan and abroad, including the Tongyeong International Music Festival (Korea), Yonsei UniversityMusic Week (Korea), MusicaRama in Hong Kong, Bartok Festival (Hungary), andCervantino International Festival (Mexico).From 2007 to 2012, we were invited as the resident ensemble of the Takefu International Music Festival (directed by Toshio Hosokawa), premiering numerous new works by Japanese and international composers. Even today, individual members continue to be invited back to this festival.

The ensemble’s unusual name was inspired by John Cage’s lifelong fascination with mushrooms- he once said that the word “music” sits next to “mushroom” in the dictionary. As the “next” generation after Cage, nmp continues to carry forward and promote the music of our own time.

TomokoFukui: Director, the next mushroom promotion

CDMEMORYWORKS BY TOSHIO HOSOKAWA X
next mushroom promotion plays Toshio Hosokawa works
1.SINGINGGARDEN for 6 Players
2.ARC-SONG for Clarinet and Harp
3.MEMORY - In Memoryof Isang Yun - for Violin,
Violoncello and Piano
4."HAIKU" for PierreBoulez - to his 75th birthday - for Piano
5.FRAGMENTE III for WindQuintet
6.MUSIC for Flute?C Violin?C Viola and Violoncello
7.VERTICAL TIMESTUDY I for Clarinet?C Violoncello and Piano
8.DRAWING for 8 Players