On a foggy evening of Jan. 26, the music department’s Concert Hall at the University of Rhode Island came alive with the vibrant and rich melodies of Hashi Duo.
The duo, guitarist Adrián Montero and pianist Moé Takamatsu, whose name translates to “bridge” in Japanese, were once again at the musical stage of URI. The artists are known for connecting cultures through their blend of traditional and contemporary compositions from Japan and Latin America.
Hashi Duo’s mission goes beyond creating beautiful music; it aims to be a cultural bridge, fostering a deeper understanding of diverse traditions. The repertoire, featuring both solo and chamber music for classical guitar and piano, showcased the duo’s commitment to sharing their unique cultures with the University’s audience.
Montero, an internationally acclaimed Costa Rican musician, has not only won numerous competitions but is also actively promoting the works of contemporary Costa Rican and Ibero-American composers. Montero has an impressive discography and a Master’s candidate in classical guitar performance at URI.
Takamatsu, originally from Okayama Prefecture, Japan, is an impressive pianist with an outstanding history of awards from Japan and performances around the world. Currently studying piano performance at URI, Takamatsu continues to captivate audiences with her musical sensitivity and technical excellence.
This is not the only concert with which Montero and Takamatsu have played for a URI crowd. Their last performance at the University took place on Nov. 29, 2023. In the future, the duo is planning to perform at the Concert Hall again, with the announcements posted on URI Events.
On Friday, the concert’s program showcased the duo’s diverse repertoire, featuring original and arranged works that brought together the minimalist Japanese and vivid Latin American cultures.
Highlights included Alonso Torres’s “Recordando un Bolero,” a fusion of sensual bolero dance with jazz rhythms, and Mario Castelnuovo Tedesco’s “Fantasy Op.145,” the blend of his Jewish origins with Italian lyricism.
An addition to the program was Marvin Camacho’s “7 Haikus.”
The duo explored Japanese poetry translated into music through extended techniques, rather using little words and more sounds to create a unique poetic experience for the audience.
Haikus are different from traditional English poetry, as in the haiku the number of word’s syllabus strictly following the rule of 5-7-5 for each line, respectively.
The choice of stage lighting was a soothing green, Takamatsu’s favorite color, which added an extra layer of significance to the performance. The green lighting emphasized the influence of nature on the duo’s repertoire and performance choices, tying into the theme of the concert, according to Montero.
“We come from Costa Rica and Japan, and our personal interest goes with nature,” Montero said. “Our program has this flavor of salsa and then peace. It landscapes from one part to another. We chose this color because our program, just like nature, is very organized.”
The Hashi Duo transformed the concert into an immersive experience, translating haikus into musical narratives. Beyond playing their instruments, they utilized vocal elements, banging sounds and applied the sound of inside piano keys.
They arranged a performance that went beyond the conventional boundaries of a classical concert.
The concert attracted a diverse audience, including three psychology or political science students taking MUSIC 101. Their music professor recommended the girls to see Montero and Takamatsu on stage.
Another attendee, Joseph Devorak, a student interested in classical music, found himself captivated by the duo’s performance. Fazillah, a friend supporting guitarist Montero, and Armando, a campus worker and dedicated Hashi Duo fan, also added to the enthusiastic crowd.
Jerry and Amy, a couple from Providence, were pleased with the concert. Jerry has a personal connection to URI, having attended the University many years ago and currently taking guitar lessons from Montero.
The joy and excitement experienced by the audience were in the air.
“It was pretty remarkable,” Mariann Goldsmith said, a retired biology professor at URI.
Adam Levin, Montero’s teacher, exuded pride in the duo’s achievement.
“The haikus were amazing. I loved the piece,” Levin said.
Hashi Duo’s concert at URI did not only showcase the artists’ musical and performance excellence, but served as proof that the power of music can transcend cultural boundaries and create a conversation between different traditions and generations.