Part of the archive reissue noiseless CD series whereby noise on the original analogue master tapes has been removed through a digital process. Keisho Imai (1871-1947) was a leading koto player of the Yamada school. Founded at the end of the 18th century, by Kengyo Yamada, borrowing from narrative shamisen forms, the Yamada school developed a style where the voice line became more dominant. Keisho Imai is considered one of the greatest ever exponents of this style. 1. Miyako no Haru : Keisho Imai, Keiko Imai (vocals/koto), Kinichi Nakanoshima (sangen), Wado Seki (shakuhachi) -1931 2. Kogou no Kyoku : Keisho Imai, Keiko Imai (vocals /koto), Shoetsu Ito (sangen), Judo Notomi (shakuhachi) - 1931 3. Shofu : Keisho Imai (koto), Keiko Imai (vocals /koto), Kinichi Nakanoshima (sangen), Judo Notomi (shakuhachi) - 1933 4. Kikusui : song & koto by Keisho Imai, Keiko Imai, sangen by Shoetsu Ito - 1932
Second in the series. 1. Kotobuki Kurabe : Keisho Imai (koto), Hidei Sato, Keiko Nakanoshima (vocals), Eisho Koshino (sangen), Baikyoku Araki (shakuhachi) - 1933 2. Shichifukujin : Keisho Imai (vocals /koto), Shofu Abiko (sangen) - 1934 3. Nasuno : Keisho Imai (vocals/koto), Keiko Nakanoshima (vocals), Kinichi Nakanoshima (sangen) - 1934 4. Ondai Banzai : Keisho Imai, Keiko Nakanoshima (vocals /koto), Shoetsu Ito(sangen) - 1934 5. Ameyo no Tsuki from 'Taiheiki' : Keisho Imai, Kiyoi Kawabata (vocals/koto), Kinichi Nakanoshima (sangen) - 1934 Price: £18.99
Third volume in the archive noiseless series featuring the acclaimed koto player most active during the 1930s. 1. Hachidan : Keisho Imai (koto) -1932 2. Shochikubai : Keisho Imai, Keiko Imai (vocals/koto), Kinichi Nakanoshima (sangen), Judo Notomi (shakuhachi) - 1932 3. Chidori no Kyoku : Keisho Imai, Keiko Imai (vocals/koto), Baikyoku Araki (shakuhachi) - 1933 4. Haru no Kyoku : Keisho Imai, Kinichi Nakanoshima (koto), Keiko Imai (vocals), Judo Notomi (shakuhachi) - 1933 5. Shiki no Nagame : Keisho Imai (vocals/koto), Shunsho Tomizaki (vocals/sangen)- 1933
Tanzo Hori (born 1945) has studied and played different styles of shakuhachi; minyo (folk) Kinko-ryu (traditional koten and honkyoku) Nagauta-bayashi (shinobue, nokan) and Nagauta Shamisen. Here he demonstrates his versatility on an excellent CD of shakuhachi music. 18 tracks. 1. Hanakage 2. Furusato 3. Esashi Oiwake 4. Matsumae Oiwake 5. Tsukiyo Mago Uta 6. Soya no Konahiki Uta 7. Tsugaruyama Uta 8. Miyagi Nagamochi Uta 9. Nanbu Ushioi Uta 10. Ondo no Funauta 11. Kariboshikiri Uta 12. Kitagamigawa Funauta 13. Toyama Bushi 14. Honjo Oiwake 15. Sado Okesa 16. Seki no Gohonmatsu 17. Uwajima Sansa 18. Momiji Price: £12.99
Compositions by the late great Michiyo Miyagi performed by Tomoko Sunazaki (koto) and Dozan Fujiwara (shakuhachi). Some tracks feature the 17 stringed koto and others in higher and lower registers. 7 tracks 1. Haru no Umi 2. Izumi 3. Sakura Henso Kyoku 4. Sarashi Kaze Tegoto 5. Seoto 6. London no Yoro no Ame 7. Kazoe Uta Hensokyuoku.
The Miyagi Gassou-dan or Miyagi ensemble was formed by the great Michiyo Miyagi in 1933. Miyagi was largely responsible for creating a new style of koto music based on western ideas, and is compared sometimes to western composers such as Debussy. The Gassou-dan was formed to improve the skill of small ensemble playing and following Miyagi's death in 1956, was reformed in 1969 by two of his most promiment students Kazue and Kiyoko Miyagi. 8 tracks of classic Miyagi material, performed between 1975 to more recent. 1. Henkyoku Kinuta 2. Haru no Umi 3. Genso 4. Haru no Shishu 5. Kaze to Hikari to Sora to 6. Suien Futaku 7. Henkyoku Sarashi Kaze Tegoto 8. Ichigo Henyo Price: £29.99
Satomi Fukami began studying koto from an early age under Kiyoko and Kazue Miyagi. On this album she plays classic tunes on 17 string koto plus voice with a modern arrangement. 1. Godanjo 2. Sarashi 3. Yachiyo-Jishi 4. Nikyoku Isoou.
It might not exactly be the X-Factor but every year the Japan Traditional Cultures Foundation holds auditions to find the most promising young musicians. Here's one of the 2007 discoveries, shakuhachi player Koumei Ashigaki. Four tracks, shakuhachi plus shamisen. Price: £18.99
Masateru Ando studied under the late great Michiyo Miyagi and other members of the Miyagi dynasty. He is known for combining the traditional elements as passed on by Miyagi together with a modern approach and various collaborations. He has performed extensively in Japan and around the world and is currently a professor in the traditional music faculty at the renowned Tokyo Geijutsu University. Koto- Masateru Ando, plus on sangen (shamisen) Satomi Fukami (track 1), Yasukazu Fujii (track 2) Seikin Toyama (track 3)1. Shakkyo 2. Zangetsu 3. Miyama Jishi
Born in 1913, Toshiko Yonekawa is a Living National Treaure, the daughter of the first koto and sangen (shamisen) player of the Ikuta school, Kino Yonekawa. She was something of a child prodigy, and as a player became known for her skill of intonation, rhythm and sonic beauty. This CD is of five tracks performed with various family members, who are also specialist players of koto and sangen. 1. Agazuma Jishi, 2. Oyama Jishi, 3. Shochikubai 4. Iwai 5. Sasurai Price: £18.99
Traditional album of koto plus uta (voice). 3 tracks, 1. Yume no Temakura 2. Koto Kouta 3. Nukata no On Niyori Zenso-Kyoku to Mittsu no Uta.
Michiyo Miyagi (1894-1956) is a legendary figure of koto music, creating a new style of music, based on western ideas. His most famous tune is Haru no Umi, a koto/shakuhachi duet. On this CD, some of the finest koto and shakuhachi players play the most famous compositions from this giant of Japanese hogaku music. 1. Haru no Umi - Shin Miyashita (koto) Reibo Aoki (shakuhachi) 2. Haru no Yoru - Sumiko Hirai (koto, vocal) Reibo Aoki (shakuhachi) 3. Seoto - Shinichi Yuize (koto) Yasuko Nakajima (17 stringed koto) 4. Tegoto - Tadao Sawai (koto) Price: £17.99
Volume 2 features more Michiyo Miyagi classics, including a tune about evening rain in London! 1. Karaginuta - Fumiko Yonekawa (shamisen) 2. London no Yoru no Ame - Keiko Nosaka (koto) 3. Eihei no Kotai - Keiko Nosaka 4. Hatsu Uguisu - Kumiye Fuji (koto and vocal) Hisako Ota (koto) Reibo Aoki (shakuhachi)
Five tracks of classic shakuhachi material, mostly jiuta pieces in the hauta style from Ikuta Ryu school, performed by the brillant Hozan Yamamoto, and others. 1. Wakana 2. Oyama Jishi 3. Hagi no Tsuyu 4. Hachidan no Shirabe 5. Tsuru no Koe. Price: £17.99
20 tracks of koto classics, beautifully performed and recorded. These include Dokokade Haru Ga, Akatonbo, Kojo no Tsuki, Hamachidori and Konomichi.
Kengyo Yatsuhashi (1614-1685) is generally credited as popularizing koto music. The story is he was a blind shamisen player in Edo (Tokyo) who was taught the original koto style (tsukushigoto) from a particularly poor player. He went to Kyoto where he formed his own school re-arranging koto pieces (kumuita) for popular tastes, his shamisen background being an influence. This superb 2 CD set of 8 tracks features the earliest compositions played beatifully by Namino Torii. Disc 1 : Umegae, Yuki No Ashita, Kiritsubo, Shiki No Tomo, Disc 2 : Utsusemi, Hashihime, Ougino-kyoku, Hatsuneno-kyoku. Price: £32.99
Very classical style koto and singing from a real master. Namino Torii performs on the koto and singis eight tracks. Akashi, Shiki no Fuji, Omoi Gawa, Tenka Taihei, Usugoromo, Tomochidori, Usuyuki and Shiki no Kyoku.
Part of the 'noiseless' re-releases of classic archive material ie. previous tape noise has been removed. Michio Miyagi (1894-1956) almost singlehandedly brought koto music into the 20th century, creating a new style of music based on western ideas. His compositions of new hogaku rank alongside his western classical music counterparts such as Debussy. Blind from early childhood, he tragically died during his creative prime falling from a speeding train. Nevertheless he left behind a formidable body of work. This superb CD compiles seven of his masterpieces, including his most famous piece, Haru No Umi, together with a French violinist recorded in the 40s, plus Sakura Henso-kyoku, Seoto, Ochiba No Odori, Kazoeuta Henso-kyoku, Sarashikaze-tegoto, Haru no Otozure. The koto players include Kiyoko Miyagi. Price: £18.99
Four songs with vocals from Miyagi- part of the 'noiseless re-releases'. 1. Mizu no Hentai 2. Haru no Yoru 3. Hatsu Uguisu 4. Aki no Shirabe. The other musicians are Kiyoko Miyagi (koto) and Seifu Yoshida (shakuhachi ).
Collection of classic masterpieces. Miyagi plays koto, sangen (shamisen) and sings. 1. Rokudan, 2. Godan Jo 3. Sue no Chigiri 4. Chaondo 5. Chidori no Kyoku. Other musicians are Kiyoko Miyagi (koto) and Seifu Yoshida (shakuhachi ). Price: £18.99
Tadao Sawai is perhaps Japan's greatest genius of modern koto music. He is known both for his extraordinary technique and for his wonderful compositions. Aside to traditional themes, those compositions often reflected his own ideologies. Those pieces are often dramatic, changing in an instant from soft stroking of the koto strings to percussive hard hitting. Watching Tadao Sawai perform was a memorable experience, Like most masters he made it look easy, belying a deep understanding and total control he brought to his playing. This is a re-release of an LP originally from 1985. He performs with his wife Kazue Sawai and a small ensemble of traditional musicians. Four tracks plus one bonus track for CD. Futasu no Henso-kyoku, Suimen, Sekisyun, Tsuchi Ningyo, Jyokei Sansho.
Re-release onto CD of LP. Koto player Tadao Sawai with his wife Kazue Sawai and a small ensemble of traditional musicians. Four tracks : Akogare, Soga (accompanied by Shakuhachi and 17 stringed koto) Sunae and Dou to Sei no Kage. Price: £16.99
Re-release onto CD of LP. Koto player Tadao Sawai with his wife Kazue Sawai and a small ensemble of traditional musicians. Four tracks plus one bonus track not on original LP. Hanaikada, Futasu no Mure no Tameni, Taka, Yuki Monogatari and Ginga.
Re-release of deleted LP. Tadao with Kazue Sawai. Four tracks plus one bonus. Fantasia for Koto, Doukeshi, a Medley of Three Tunes, Kinuta Sansho and Hotaru. Two performed solo. Price: £16.99
Re-release onto CD of deleted LP. Koto player Tadao Sawai with his wife Kazue Sawai and a small ensemble of traditional musicians. Four tracks : Hikaru Umi, Kurodabushi ni Yoru, Genso-kyoku and Bara.
Re-release of eight LP records onto CD, released between 1980 and 1986 with extra tracks. Traditional ensemble with shakuhachi and koto. Hozan Yamamoto was designated a living national treasure in 2002. He is head of the Hozan-kai Shakuhachi Guild and one of the great pioneers in experimental styles and has recorded with a number of collaborators around the world including Ravi Shankar, and top musicians from the jazz and flamenco worlds. This excellent series profiles his more traditional repertoire and highlight his outstanding technique. Six tracks : Shion, Taiko, Gen no Shirabe, Banka, Snagen Dokuso-kyoku Yuzurigi and Kari. Price: £16.99
Volume 2 of re-release of eight LP records onto CD, released between 1980 and 1986 with extra tracks. Traditional ensemble with shakuhachi and koto. Five tracks : Shaka, Kiri no Hibiki, Kiku no Ga, Nikan no Fu, and Fuyu.
Volume 3 of re-release of eight LP records onto CD, released between 1980 and 1986 with extra tracks. Traditional ensemble with shakuhachi and koto. Seven tracks : Aioi no Uta, Ichikotsu, Take no Shirabe, Fuyudori, Haru, Kotobuki and Shurai. Price: £16.99
Seven tracks : Kamimu, Futatsu no Genso, Ryokai (inprovisation), Ame (with koto and shakuhachi) Sayokyoku (with koto and 17 stringed koto,) Zuisei and Shakuhachi Duet No.2.
Six tracks : Kreansui (sangen and shakuhachi) Aki, Harusayaka, Ryo (for five shakuhachi players), Kakeai, and Souen. Price: £16.99
Five tracks : Sanrai (for shakuhachi and flute) Tougebana (for shakuhachi and 17 stringed koto), Konbankagiri Tsukiga, Take no Gunzo and Shakuhachi Quartet No.1.
Seven tracks : Koto, Tsuido, Natsu, Kanotsu, Suisai (solo) Inyoku and Niji. Price: £16.99
Six tracks : Fuga 1, Shakuhachi Duet No.4, Shakuhachi Duet Take, Kyotou, Saiga and Chiku Saisai.
The ultimate koto collection. Superb set of 5 CDs now released on CD, originally issued as LP records in 1982. The most famous koto repertroire performed by the greatest players. Michio Miyagi, Kinichi Nakanishima, Tadao Sawai, Shin MIyashita, and accompanied by the greatest shakuhachi players such as Hozan Yamamoto and Reibo Aoki. Price: £68.99
5 CD box set of koto tracks, this one newly compiled. Artists include Kiyoko Miyagi, Kazue Miyagi, Tadao Sawai, Kinichi Nakanoshima, Tomoko Sunazaki, Keiko Nomura, Hikaru Sawai, Mieko Miyazaki accompanied by shakuhachi played by Reibo Aoki, Kifu Mihashi and others.
Tando Kosaka is a veteran shakuhachi player. On this double CD set he plays and unusually for a shakuachi player sings on an album of minyo (folk) tunes, as opposed to classical repertroire. 45 tracks including new recordings. Price: £30.99
Kouno Kameyama is a master of the Yamada school of koto. Here he plays four classic tunes with fellow masters on shakuhachi (Keisuke Zenyoji), tsuzumi (Tazae Mochizuki) and fue (Toru Fukuhara). Up to the standard of performance and recording you would expect.
Akikazu Nakamura is one of Japan's leading shakuhachi (bamboo flute) players, a musician who has garnered a strong reputation overseas. A graduate of Berklee College he is probably best known for his ability to cross musical boundaries performing with jazz musicians such as Kazumi Watanabe and Elvin Jones, forming the group Kokoo with koto innovator Michiyo Yagi, and performing at the Lincoln Center, Kennedy Center and Blue Note New York. This new CD sees him return to the roots of the shakuhachi, with pieces originally devloped by komuso (wandering priests). Shakuhachi developed during the Edo period (1600-1868) mainly due to the komuso. You many have seen pictures of a komuso, playing a shakuhachi from behind a wicker basket hat under which they have observed life in Japan until the present day. The repertoire is of the classic zen style; meditative, designed for introspection. Within the modern bustle of life, the shakuhachi still offers a sanctuary of relaxation and musical refinement. Tracks include Tsuru no Sugomori, Furin, Futaeken Sanya, Reibo and Mutsu Reibo. Price: £18.99
Akikazu Nakamura is well known in western circles as a shakuhachi (bamboo flute) player who has performed with American jazz players, played at numerous venues in America and studied at Berklee college. On this album he goes back to the roots of shakuhachi, when it was an instrument of the komoso (traveling zen monks) and the Hokuriko district of northeast Japan.
Masters of the shakuhachi and classic shakuhachi tunes. Price: £15.99
