Nagai Kenshi
Nagai Kenshi (永井建子, Nagai Kenshi; Saeki-ku, district of Hiroshima, October 17 1865 – Nishi-ku, Hiroshima Ward, March 13 1940) was a Japanese composer and military bandmaster.
Biography
Nagai Kenshi was born on October 17, 1865, in Hiroshima Japan. In 1878, at age 13, Kenshi joined a military band. He studied music in the military with Charles Leroux, and in 1880 he graduated as a military bandmaster and instructor. In 1891, he was promoted to military kapellmeister. In 1894, he was moved to the headquarters the Japanese Second Army. The army deployed during the First Sino-Japanese War, and took part in the Battle of Weihan in 1895. It was during this war, that Kenshi's best known piece, "Yuki no Shingun", or, "The Snow March" was created. In 1903, he was given the opportunitry to study music in France, and in 1904, he became kapellmeister at Toyama Army School. In 1905, he performed a concert in Hibiya Park in Tokyo, and in 1910, he went to England with his military band, and performed in several concerts around the country..
In September 1915, he retired from the military, and became director of the Royal Theater. After the 1923 Great Kantō earthquake, he moved to his hometown of Hiroshima.
As a composer, he wrote several marches and other patriotic songs for Japan.
Compositions
Concert band music
- 1892 Yuan pirates
- 1895 Yuki no Shingun (雪の進軍)
- 1899 Infantry duty (The Heart of Infantry)
- Army Song of Triumph
- Cherry March
- Eight Hundred and Six Village Road
- Song of the Military Imperial Instructions[1]
Liederen
- Takushoku University School Song, for harmony vocals
- Waseda Jitsugyo Gakko School Song, for harmony vocals
- Furuta Elementary School Song, for harmony vocals
Representation in media
- Depicted in Chi to suna
External links
- (in Japanese) Biografie door Kuniharu Akiyama in de Asahi encyclopedia