本稿の目的は、昭和初期におけるヨハネス・ブラームスの交響曲の紹介方法について、新交響楽団の機関紙における曲目解説に着目して明らかにすることである。ここでは、新交響楽団の機関紙『曲目と解説』、『フィルハーモニー・パンフレット』、『音楽雑誌フィルハーモニー』、『日本交響楽団誌』を主史料として使用した。これらの調査から、ブラームスの交響曲の曲目解説は、牛山充、堀内敬三、服部龍太郎、門馬直衛、属啓成らの音楽評論家が執筆を担当していることが確認された。また、《交響曲第2 番》から《交響曲第4 番》までの曲目解説においては、それぞれの主題に対応する管弦楽器の旋律的な動きとそれを担当する伴奏楽器の特徴的な動きが紹介されていた。新交響楽団の機関紙における曲目解説は、定期公演の聴衆に各楽章の演奏順序を提示するだけではなく、楽曲分析に基づく管弦楽の演奏上の基礎的な知識を提供していることが注目される。

Japan’s musical instrument industry grew during the nation’s postwar period of rapid economic growth, centered on piano manufacturing. As domestic demand grew, the industry’s exports also captured high market shares and strong reputations internationally. However, due to slowing domestic sales as a result of Japan’s low birth rate and diversification of consumers’ interests, as well as price competition with emerging markets for exports, Japan’s musical instrument industry faces difficult circumstances.

As the Japanese musical instrument industry reaches a turning point amid tough market conditions, wind instrument makers manufacturing flutes and saxophones are making particularly strenuous efforts. They have earned very strong reputations overseas, including in Europe and North America, in the field of Western musical instruments. Japan long has been home to a number of flute manufacturers, such as Muramatsu, that are world leaders in technology and product development, and Japanese saxophone makers, such as Yamaha and Yanagisawa, are also highly regarded internationally for the quality of their products, from entry-level models to high-end professional saxophones.

Focusing on the product development strategies of flute and saxophone makers in Japan, this paper considers product strategies and market sales over the past 30 years. Flute makers have shifted from mass-production models to diverse product lines, increasing added value through the use of new metal materials and improvements in their instruments and reflecting these in their prices. Saxophone makers also have continued steady product development, differentiating their products through new added value amid international price competition.

This study confirms a common trend among Japanese wind instrument manufacturers producing flutes and saxophones toward a strategy of shifting to higher-end models and expanding model lineups, through continual development of new products. It also shows that the new materials and new features introduced by these manufacturers are highly regarded in the market, and that the distinctive new models are a factor behind rising prices.