Samba of the Sun | Japanesque by Sparkle Guitar Ensemble

Описание: 'Samba of the Sun' performed by ‪@SparkleGuitar‬ at Japanesque, held at Drama Centre Black Box, Singapore, on 12th July 2025.

Composed by Yudai Hatanaka

Bursting with rhythmic vitality and radiant warmth, Samba of the Sun by Yudai Hatanaka channels the exuberant spirit of Brazilian samba through the rich textures of the Niibori guitar ensemble. Hatanaka, a leading composer and arranger within this tradition, masterfully fuses Latin rhythmic drive with Japanese precision and the resonant sonorities of the guitar family.

A highlight of this performance is the alto cembalo, a rare, high-register guitar whose bright, harpsichord-like tone cuts through the ensemble with crystalline clarity. Its crisp articulation and buoyant timbre bring the samba rhythms to life, infusing the music with an effervescent, sunlit sparkle.

At its core, Samba of the Sun celebrates both cultural and musical exchange — a joyful meeting of Brazilian rhythm and Japanese craftsmanship. It’s a reminder that in the hands of imaginative composers, the guitar ensemble is a boundless medium — capable of swinging, shimmering, and dazzling audiences with its color and vitality.

🎸 About us
Founded in 2022, Sparkle Guitar Ensemble is a collaborative effort between passionate young guitarists from NUS and SMU. Sparkle Guitar Ensemble is a fledgling group aiming to develop, promote and explore the Niibori guitar art form through music creation and performance. It seeks to make Niibori more approachable for the public by arranging and performing contemporary works from video game and anime soundtracks with Niibori instrumentation, as well as performing traditional Japanese Niibori repertoire on a variety of platforms.

🎶 Our performances
VOMG - Fire of Youth 2021 (Runner-up)
EMCC 2022 Epiphany - A Journey to Freedom
Japanesque 2025
Aubade (Collaboration with Re:String Guitar Ensemble)
Appassionata 2024 (Collaboration with Xpose Guitar Ensemble)
Anime Festival Asia Akiba Stage 2022, 2023, 2024
Sakura: Anime Garden 2024
Anime Festival Asia Creators Super Fest 2024
Sparkle@Hanoi 2024
Video recordings on our Youtube channel

👋 Connect with us!
Youtube:    / @sparkleguitar  
Instagram:   / sparkleguitarensemble  
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?...
TikTok:   / sparkle.guitar.ensemble  
Email: [email protected]