In the autumn of 2016, Ueno Gakuen University put on a lawn saxophone concert. The venue was Kyu-Iwasaki Gardens, and I decided to go. With warm weather, the crowd of about one hundred enjoyed some wonderful music.
The mansion in the gardens was the perfect place for the concert. English architect Josiah Conder designed it in the nineteenth century. It is a beautiful building that oozes old-world charm.
The audience sat on the grass while the ensemble played on the veranda. Some of the pieces included “Rhapsody in Blue” by George Gershwin and a great Glen Miller medley. During breaks, the conductor explained various facts about the group and the music.
Ueno Gakuen University is well-known for its music faculty. One of its graduates is Nobuyuki Tsuji. He was a gold medalist at the 2009 Van Cliburn International Piano Competition. Nobuyuki might have been born blind, but that hasn’t held him back. Now he is a world-famous pianist and composer. I’m sure that some of the musicians who performed this weekend will follow in his footsteps.
And to let you know, I didn’t take these photos with a Fujifilm camera. I took them with a Pentax K-3 and the 18-135 mm lens. But, when I re-edited them, I applied a Fujifilm film simulation. So maybe they are hybrids?
There is nothing wrong with Pentax photos. I just like Fujfilm’s more, plus its simulations allow more options. And it also allows this blog to have a uniform look. Anyway, that is my choice.
Still, I would like to buy into the Pentax system again one day. They make some excellent cameras. When I think of them, I have some feelings of nostalgia. One day, I’ll put my thoughts into an article.
Have you been to one of these events in Tokyo? Let us know about your experience. You can also read my article about Kyu-Iwasaki Gardens. If you have questions or comments, please leave them below. I’ll do my best to get back to you.