Our friends perform our arrangement in Japan!

by Scott

Back in 2019, we made friends online with a pianist and arranger from Japan named Saeko Tabuchi, after we discovered her unique and creative arrangements on YouTube. We performed her jazzy Fur Elise arrangement many times and it is always loved by audiences everywhere! During our trip in November 2019 to Japan and Taiwan, we had the great experience of meeting Saeko and her piano duo partner Natsuka in Tokyo, right after we landed at the airport late at night! It was an almost surreal experience and it taught us about the value of reaching out to people, no matter where they lived, because these connections can turn into long-lasting and meaningful friendships. During our meeting, we played Saeko’s special arrangement of Für Elise for 8-hands (all four of us at one piano!). This was after 24 hours of no sleep and a long flight, but somehow we managed to play it and record it (see the video here)!

Prior to our meeting in 2019, Saeko and Natsuka learned my 4-hand arrangement of Franz Liszt’s Liebestraum No. 3, and performed it for us in Tokyo. They have since performed it several more times, including this past week at the beautiful Akasaka Palace in Tokyo, on an antique 1906 Erard piano, owned by the Emperor of Japan. Saeko sent us photos and a news article (in Japanese!). Unfortunately, video-recording was not permitted during the concert, but here is an older performance of theirs of the Liebestraum.

Thanks again, Saeko and Natsuka!