The music department at the American School in Japan is pleased to present Centennial Concerts as part of the 100^th anniversary celebrations of the American School in Japan.

To commemorate this event the bands presented the premiere performance of Daruma Festival March written by the eminent American composer, William Himes.

When the decision was made to commission a band piece as one of the centennial projects, the music department agreed that William Himes should be the first person to ask. We were delighted that he agreed to accept the commission.  Mr. Himes will be further honoring us by conducting the bands in the world premiere of this piece.

Mr. Himes has incorporated two Japanese cultural influences into the music.  First is the extensive use of percussion representative of taiko drumming and second is the Daruma folk festival held annually at various temples throughout Japan, including the Jindai-ji temple located near ASIJ. The image of Daruma is a familiar one in Japan and is shown on the front cover of our program.  Daruma is a representation of the Indian priest Bodhidharma, known in Japan as Bodai Daruma, the founder of Zen Buddhism in China. He was said to have lost the use of his arms and legs after spending nine years meditating in a cave.  Hence, this bright red doll is egg shaped without arms and legs; its weighted bottom and rounded shape forces the doll to right itself after being knocked over to symbolize attributes of dedication and persistence as well as recovery from misfortune. A Daruma comes with the eyes unpainted.  The purchaser makes a wish and paints in one eye.   After a year if the wish is fulfilled the other eye is painted and the doll is thrown into a fire as an offering of thanks.  Its present form dates from the Edo period (1600-1868), when it was regarded as a talisman for smallpox. Today, Daruma dolls are used as charms for the fulfillment of some special wish, such as a plentiful harvest, and are particularly popular in silk-producing areas.

Within the next few months, Daruma Festival March will be published by Kjos Music Publishing Company and will be made available to bands around the world. The dedication on the piece will read “Commissioned by and written for The American School in Japan in commemoration of its 100th anniversary, 1902-2002.”  Each future performance of this piece will be a tribute to ASIJ and the contribution that music has made to the life of the school over the past 100 years.