Japanese dance music from towns and villages on the seaside and from mountain areas.Rhythmical in nature, includes Kawachi Ondo, a style that has changed as time has gone on. Listen to Kawachi Ondo on the sound sample.
Harmony or polyphony is found in music transmitted from ancient times, and is created through techniques such as Kake'ai (alternate playing by two groups), and ondo. This CD features Shomyo (buddhist chant) and Gagaku (court music). The sound sample is of shomyo. Price: £18.99
Two great tsugaru shamisen players are joined by occasional shakuhachi and percussion.
Japanese people used to sing as they worked in fields or on the sea. This CD contains those songs, although incorporated into a stage performance. The sound sample is of an earth pounding work song. Price: £18.99
Includes a number of unusual instruments such as gottan (type of shamisen) tonkori and mukkuri (Ainu instruments) Kokyu (Okinawan koto), ichigenkin (1 string koto), tenpuku (recorder), iwabue (stone flute) and others. The sound sample is of the ichigenkin.
Various urban sounds, some of which can still be heard. Includes a temple bell, a milkman's cart, a fermented bean seller, a shellfish seller, a knife grinder and others. The sound sample is of a man selling clogs and shoes. Price: £18.99
Fascinating CD of Japanese festival traditions, such as the Kagura shinto festival, Dengakku (farming festival) and others. The sound sample is of kagura from Arita.
Classical and folk music compilation, performed by Sadao China (producer of Nenes) and interestingly the original four singers of Nenes before the group were formed, which you can listen to in the sound sample. Price: £18.99
Includes some of the most famous songs from these islands. There are many work songs in Yaeyama, while Miyako has exhuberant dance songs. Listen to one such celebratory song from Miyako on the sound sample.
Beautiful melodies are played rhythmically on the sanshin and sung in falsetto in high vocal range. Artists include Shunzo Tsukiji, Kazumi Nishi and Yoshinari Ikeda. Price: £18.99
