Mostly Melodica & Guitar

About

Pocket Penguin is an instrumental duo established by Ayumi Toyama and Ryusuke Koarashi in 2011. After more than a decade of being based in London, they relocated their base to Japan in 2023. Pocket Penguin has been mainly focusing on exploring possibility of combination of two intimate instruments—melodica & guitar—by both composing and adapting various music from all over the world. They have had performances in UK, Japan, Italy, Azerbaijan, and Turkey until now. The 1st album “A Bird Flying over Mountains” was released in March 2012, and the 2nd album “Prelude” was released in May 2013. They founded London melodica ensemble in 2013 and have been developing a number of repertoire for the ensemble.
Pocket Penguin (ポケットペンギン) とは、遠山麻友美と小嵐龍輔の２人によって2011年にロンドンにて結成されたインストゥルメンタルデュオです。長年イギリスを拠点に活動してきましたが、2023年に日本へ拠点を移しました。鍵盤ハーモニカとギターという組み合わせで現代世界の様々な音楽を取り上げると同時に、過去の作品の異なった解釈の可能性を探求します。現在までに、イギリスをはじめ、日本、アゼルバイジャン、トルコ等で演奏しました。2012年にファーストアルバム、”A Bird Flying over Mountains“が、2013年にセカンドアルバム”Prelude“がリリースされています。また、2013年には「ロンドン・メロディカ・アンサンブル」を立ち上げ、鍵盤ハーモニカ合奏のためのレパートリー開拓にも精力的に取り組んできました。

Profile

遠山麻友美 Ayumi Toyama

(melodica/piano)

Born in Nagoya, Japan, into a musical family, she began learning classical piano at the age of 4. She graduated from University of Colorado, Boulder in the U.S and now based on London as piano teacher, accompanist and melodica player. Her piano teachers include Naoshiro Kato, Mioko Kato and Piero Quaglia.

鍵盤ハーモニカ奏者、ピアニスト。University of Colorado, Boulder卒。ピアノを小津恒子、川口敦子、加藤直四朗、加藤美緒子、Piero Quagliaらの各氏に師事。ピアノ指導者、伴奏者としても活動も行っている。

小嵐龍輔 Ryusuke Koarashi

(guitar/comp./arr.)

Guitarist, and composer. Ryusuke studied at the Guildhall school of music and drama in London. His guitar teachers include Keigo Fujii, Robert Brightmore. His composition teachers include Paul Newland. He made more than 300 arrangements/compositions for melodica & guitar duo during 2011-2013.

ギター、ウクレレ、作編曲。Guildhall School of Music and Drama卒。ギターを藤井敬吾氏、Robert Brightmore氏等に、作曲をPaul Newland氏らと学んだ。作品「蛍」「雨の下に」が現代音楽グループ、ラウト、オケアノスに委嘱されロンドンにて初演された。2011年〜2013年の間には300曲以上を鍵盤ハーモニカ＆ギターの組み合わせのために作編曲した。

Media

Performance Video

Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Classical Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi

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Discography

A bird flying over mountains

Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.com | Amazon.co.jp | Apple Music

Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Classical Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
Design: Yoichiro Hatanaka
Mixed & Mastered: Ryoji Hata

Tracklist:

  1. Three Hungarian Folk Songs from Csík (Béla Bartók)
  2. Prelude from Cello Suite III (Johann Sebastian Bach)
  3. Kinderstück (Anton Webern)
  4. Rondo Alla Turca (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart)
  5. A Bird Flying Over Mountains (Ryusuke Koarashi)

Total Length: 15:19
ASIN: B008Q4K08O

Prelude

Ask us for a hard copy.

Melodica: Ayumi Toyama
Classical Guitar: Ryusuke Koarashi
Design: Kaori Onishi

Tracklist:

Ayumi Toyama & Ryusuke Koarashi:

  1. Prelude I
  2. Prelude II
  3. Prelude III
  4. Prelude IV
  5. Prelude V

Ryusuke Koarashi:

  1. Fragment of Dream (31 Jan. 2013)
  2. Fragment of Dream (5 Feb. 2013)
  3. Fragment of Dream (12 Feb. 2013)
  4. Fragment of Dream (12 Apr 2013)
  5. Fragment of Dream (13 Apr 2013)

Ryusuke Koarashi:

  1. Hoshikage (Shadow of Starlight)

Total Length: 37:23

Repertoire

—the list of repertoires that we have played in public.

Melodica + Guitar

Amirov, Fikret
Two pieces on Azerbaijan Folk Themes

Bach, J.S.
Cello Suite III
-Prelude
-Allemande
-Courante
-Sarabande
-Bourré
-Gigue
Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude (from BWV147)

Bartok, Bela
Three Hungarian Folksongs from Csik
Rumanian Folk Dances
Romanian Christmas Carols Series I
Romanian Christmas Carols Series II
Sonatina on Themes from Transylvania

Bulgarian Folk Dance
Kopanitsa

Bulgarian Folk Songs
A Bre Bati Kolyo
Bre Petrunko
Dilmano, Dilbero
Dragana y Slaveya
Polegnala e Todora
Radi na Radka Dumashe
Vecheryai Rado
Vido, Vido, Byala Vido

Catalan Folk Song
El Noy De La Mare
La Nit De Nadal
La Filadora

Debussy, Claude
La fille aux cheveux de lin

Dowland, John
A Piece without Title
Forlorn Hope Fancy
The Frog Galliard

English Christmas Carol
The First Nöel
We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Folk Song
Sari Gelin

Hajibeyov, Niyazi
Music fragments from the film “Almas”

Hajibeyov, Uzeyir
Jangi

Handel, Frederic George
Ombra Mai Fu

Irish Traditional
Medley (The Road to Lisdoonvarna, The Swallowtail Jig and The Swallowtail Reel)
Londonderry Air

Khachaturian, Aram
(From Children’s Album)
A Little Song
Scherzo
Skipping Rope
Eastern Dance
Two Funny Aunties Argued
My Friend is Unwell

Kreisler, Friz
Liebesleid
Liebesfreud
Schön Rosmarin

Mirzaev, Musa
6 pieces on material of Azerbaijan Folklore
1.Lyrical Piece
2.First Dance
3.Second Dance
4.Third Dance
5.Fourth Dance
6.Fifth Dance

Miyagi, Michio
Haru no Umi

Mompou, Federico
Cancion y Danza VIII

Monti, Vittorio
Csárdás

Morricone, Ennio & Andrea
Cinema Paradiso Medley

Mozart, W.A.
Piano Sonata in A, K331

Polish Dance
Clarinet Polka

Qarayev, Qara
Prelude 2
Eskiz

Saygun, Ahmet Adnan
Inci’nin Kitabı (inci’s book)
1.Inci
2.Afcan Kedi
3.Masal
4.Kocaman Bebek
5.Oyun
6.Ninni
7.Rüya

Satie, Erik
Sonatine Breucratique
Cinema

Sor, Fernando
Souvenir de Russie

Şatıroğlu, Veysel (Aşık Veysel)
Kara Toprak
Uzun Ince Bir Yordayım

Koarashi, Ryusuke
A Bird Flying over Mountains
Crippled Jig
Çok Güzeller
Foreign Hill
Fragments of Dreams
Walking through a Forest

Koarashi & Toyama
Prelude I
Prelude II
Prelude III
Prelude IV
Prelude V

Webern, Anton
Kinderstück

Yatsuhashi, Kengyo
Rokudan no Shirabe

Piano + Guitar

Carulli, Ferdinando/Gustavo
Duo in D major op.134
Duo in G major op.151

Castelnuovo-Tedesco, Mario
Guitar Concierto in D, op.99

Fujii, Keigo
Variations on the theme of Shabondama

Koarashi, Ryusuke
Hotaru

Molino Francesco
Nocturne No.1 op.36
Nocturne No.2 op.44

Stevens, Bernard
Autumn Sequence

Voice + Melodica + Guitar

Dowland, John
Come Again
Fine Knacks for Ladies

Gershwin, George
Foggy Day
I Got a Rhythm
Summertime

Granados, Enrique
El Majo Timido
El Mirar de la Maja
Amor y Odio
El Majo Discreto

Falla, Manuel de
7 Canciones populares Españolas
El paño moruno
Seguidilla murciana
Asturiana
Jota
Nana
Canción
Polo

Rodrigo, Joaquin
De los alamos vengo, madre

Scarlatti, Alessandro
Se Florindo e Fedele

Stravinsky, Igor
Pastrale

Montsalvatge, Xavier
Cuba on a Keyboard
Punto De Habanera

Concert

Past Concerts 2019 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011 Past Concerts in 2019 Music for A While Date: 12th May (Sun） Time: 19:30-21.15 Venue: East Finchley Methodist Church High Rd., London N2 8AJ (opp.Creighton Ave) Admission: Free Collection in aid of Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice Blog Article | ブログ記事 Pocket Penguin(s) Concert 2 Date: 14th Feb (THU), 2019 Time: 13:30-15.00 Venue: AGE UK, East Finchley Blog Article | ブログ記事 Pocket Penguin(s) Concert Date: 9th Feb (Sat), 2019 Time: 18:30-20.30 Venue: St Mary Church at Finchley Hendon Lane, London N3 1TR Blog Article | ブログ記事 Past Concerts in 2017 Melodica Club Concert Date: 13th Aug (Sun) Time: 2:00pm- Venue: Hawraman Café Bar 38 Chalk Farm Road NW1 8AJ Past Concerts in 2016 Sunday Afternoon Concert (by Melodica Club) Date: 30th Oct (SUN) Time: 3pm- Venue: Emporium Tea Room 818 High Road London, N12 9QY Private Party Date: 13th Aug (SAT) Time: 7pm (Food served from 8pm) Venue: St Antony’s Club 13 Upton Avenue, Forest Gate, Sunday Afternoon Concert (by Melodica Club) Date: 12th JUN (SUN) Time: 15:30-16:30 Venue: Emporium Tea Room 818 High Road London, N12 9QY Past Concerts in 2015 Melodica Club Concert Date: 17th May (Sun) Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm Venue: Holy Trinity East Finchley Church 77 Church Ln, London N2 0TH Past Concerts in 2014 Allobu Christmas Concert Date: 23rd Dec (Tue) Time: 2:00pm-4:00pm Venue: Obu Bunka Koryu no Mori, allobu 150-1-6, Hiiragiyama-cho, Obu, Aichi 474-0053 Blog Article | ブログ記事 Charity Concert Date: 22nd Dec (Mon) Time: 2:00pm-2:30pm Venue: Aichi Children’s Health and Medical Centre 1-2 Osakada, Moriokamachi, Obu, Aichi 474-0031 Blog Article | ブログ記事 Melodica & Guitar Concert Date:6th Dec (SAT) Time:7pm – 9pm Venue: Holy Trinity Church 91 Church Lane, East Finchley N2 0TH Viola da Cunha, mezo soprano and friends Date: 13th July (SUN) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm Venue: East Finchley Methodist Church High Road, East Finchley London N2 8AJ Blog Article | ブログ記事 Bath International Music Festival 2014 Date: 16th May (FRI) Time: 19:40 – 20:10 Venue: Holburne Museum, Great Pulteney Street Bath, BA2 4DB Blog Article | ブログ記事 Private Birthday Party Date: 19th April (SAT) Time: 7pm (Food served from 8pm) Venue: St Antony’s Club 13 Upton Avenue, Forest Gate, London, E7 9PJ 3rd SOAS Interfaith Music Festival Date: 24 February (MON) Time: Approx. 11:15am-11:45am (The event starts at 11:00am, ends around 9:00pm) Venue: SOAS (Brunel Gallery Lecture Theater) Blog Article | ブログ記事 Past Concerts in 2013 Viola da Cunha, mezzo soprano and Pocket Penguin Date: 9th December (MON) Time: 2:30pm-3:15pm Venue: St Pauls Centre,102A Church St, Enfield EN2 6AR Blog Article | ブログ記事 Music Picnic (ensemble version) Date:1st December (SUN) Time: 3pm – 5pm Venue: Holy Trinity Church 91 Church Lane, East Finchley N2 0TH Blog Article | ブログ記事 Viola da Cunha, mezzo soprano and friends 2 Date: 9th November(SAT) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm Venue: Christ Church, Southgate The Green, Southgate, N14 7EG Blog Article | ブログ記事 Viola da Cunha, mezo soprano and friends 1 Date: 8th September (SUN) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm Venue: East Finchley Methodist Church High Road, East Finchley London N2 8AJ Blog Article | ブログ記事 Kitchen Party 2013 Date: 14th July (SUN) Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm Venue: Jacksons Lane Theatre Studio 4 269a Archway Road, London N6 5AA Admission: £2 Blog Article | ブログ記事 Music Picnic 2013 Date:14th July (SUN) Time:1pm – 4pm Venue: Holy Trinity Church 91 Church Lane, East Finchley N2 0TH Blog Article | ブログ記事 Melodica & Guitar Concert “Wandering Sound” Date: 21st June (FRI) Time: 15:00-17:00 Venue: PROF. DR. TÜRKAN SAYLAN ALSANCAK CULTURAL CENTER Cyprus Martyrs Caddesi No: 12 Alsancak-Izmir K.5, Turkey Tel: 0232422 52 36-0232463 43 46 Admission: 10TL Blog Article | ブログ記事 Private Party Date: 20th June (THU) Time: 8:00pm Venue: TBA Bath International Music Festival Date: 24th May (FRI) Time: 6:30pm-8:30pm Venue: Victoria Art Gallery Bridge Street, Avon, Bath BA2 4AT Blog Article | ブログ記事 Evening Concert Date: 14th April (SUN) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm Venue: East Finchley Methodist Church High Road, East Finchley London N2 8AJ Blog Article | ブログ記事 Daylight Music Date: 2nd March (SAT) Time: from Midday to 1.45pm (TBA) Venue: Union Chapel Union Chapel, Compton Avenue, London N1 2XD Blog Article | ブログ記事 Past Concerts in 2012 Live Show in Nagoya, Japan Date: 18th December (TUE) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm (2 stages) Venue: Romanian Resutaurant Sarmale 1-16-28 Aoi, Nagoya, JAPAN 461-0001 TEL:052-935-8877 Subway: Higashiyama Line Shinsakae Station (2 min walk from exit 2) Admission: ￥4000 Blog Article | ブログ記事 Lunch Time Concert in Nagoya, Japan Date: 18th December (TUE) Time: 11:30am – 12:30pm Venue: Munetsugu Hall 4-5-14 Sakae, Naka-ku, Nagoya 460-0008 JAPAN Subway: Higashiyama Line Sakae Station (5 min walk from exit 12) Admission: ￥1000 Blog Article | ブログ記事 Kitchen Party (Christmas Party) 2012 Date: 1st December (SAT) Time: 6:00pm – 9:00pm Venue: St. Mary Church Finchley 26 Hendon Lane Finchley, London N3 1RT Admission: £2 Blog Article | ブログ記事 A Mini Concert 2012 Date: 29th September (SAT) Time: 6:00pm – 8:00pm Venue: St. Mary Church Finchley 26 Hendon Lane Finchley, London N3 1RT Kitchen Party May 2012 Date: 20th May (SUN) Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm Venue: Annies Bar Annies Bar. 180 Kentish Town Road, London, NW5 2AE Evening Concert Date: 15th April (SUN) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm Venue: East Finchley Methodist Church High Road, East Finchley London N2 8AJ Kitchen Party 2012 Date: 11th March (SUN) Time: 3:00pm – 7:00pm Venue: Annies Bar Annies Bar. 180 Kentish Twon Road, London, NW5 2AE Live Music Date: 4th March (SUN) Time: 2:30pm-3:30pm Venue: tobaccofactory Tobacco Factory. Raleigh Rd, Bristol, BS3 1TF TEL:0117 902 0060 Blog Article | ブログ記事 This Is The Kit Date: 3rd March (SAT) Time: 8pm Venue: Colston Hall 2 Colston Hall 2, Colston St Bristol BS1 5AR Blog Article | ブログ記事 Free Concert in Aichi Medical Hospital, Japan Date: 24th February (FRI) Time: 2:30pm-3:30pm Venue: Aichi Medical Hospital Aichi Medical University Nagakute, Aichi, 480-1195 TEL:052-935-8877 Live Show in Nagoya, Japan Date: 24th February (FRI) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm (2 stages) Venue: Romanian Resutaurant Sarmale Nagoya-shi, Aoi, 1-16-28 461-0001 Subway: Higashiyama Line Shinsakae Station (2mins walk from exit 2) TEL:052-935-8877 Live Show in Nagoya, Japan Date: 25th February (SAT) Time: 7:30pm-9:30pm (2stages) Venue: Il Matino Nagoya-shi, Meito-ku, Akegaoka122, Hato Building 1F101 Subway: Higashiyama Line Fujigaoka Station (1min walk ) TEL: 052-772-3322 Past Concerts in 2011 Kitchen Party 2011 Date: 27th Nov (SUN) Time: 2pm – 5pm Venue: Crane &Tortoise 39-41 Gray’s Inn Road London WC1X 8PR Music Picnic 2011 Date:17th July (SUN) Time:1pm – 4:30pm Venue: Holy Trinity Church 91 Church Lane, East Finchley N2 0TH Lunchtime Concert Date:10th June (FRI) Time1:10pm – 1:50 pm Venue: St. John’s, Waterloo Admission Free Blog Article | ブログ記事 Charity Concert “Lend a hand to Japan” Date: 4th June (SAT) Doors Open: 19:00 Performance: 19:30 (All proceeds will be donated to the Japan Tsunami Appeal by the Japan Red Cross) Venue:St George’s Church Bloomsbury Way WC1A 2HR Blog Article | ブログ記事 Guitar and Piano Concert Date: 7th Apr (THU) Time: 1pm – 2pm Venue: St. Paul’s Church Covent Garden Blog Article | ブログ記事

Edition

Sheet music arranged by Ryusuke Koarashi is available for purchase.

Melodica & Guitar

Melodica Ensemble

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