First in a series of CDs, acting as a guide to Japanese traditional music. This one introduces two styles of gagaku, or ancient court music; Torai Gakufu and Kuniburi Kayo performed by Tokyo Gakusho and Reigakusha.
CD 1;
Torai Gakufu [Kangen]
1. Hyojo Choshi 2. Etenraku Nokorigaku Sanpen 3. Bairo Torai Gakufu [Bugaku-kyoku] 4. Manzairaku 5. Karyobin no Kyu 6. Ran Ryoou 7. Taiheiraku no Kyu 8. Engiraku 9. Hassen no Kyu 10. Nasori no Kyu 11. Satoku no Kyu 12. Bairo no Ha
CD2;
Kuniburi Kayo [Shinji Kayo]
1. Ajime Saho 2. Senzai, Motouta, Sueuta 3. Asakura no Netori 4. Asakura 5. Sonokoma Sando Byoshi, Agebyoshi 6. Azuma-asobi Agebyoshi 7. Azuma-asobi Ichiuta 8. Kumeuta no Netori 9. Kumeuta Mairi Onjo
Kuniburi Kayo [Eikyoku] 10. Kanshi 11. Harusugi 12. Koromogae 13. Mimasaka
This CD focuses on shomyo [buddhist chants], nohgaku [music from Japan's dance drama], sokyoku [koto music] and jiuta [early shamisen music]
CD1;
Shomyo
1. Yuko Aoki Daisosho / Nehan Koshiki Heike Biwa 2. Koji Inokawa [Story Telling, Heike Biwa] Nohgaku
3. Motomasa Kanze / Kumano [Nohgaku] 4. Kiyokazu Kanze / Takasago [Dokugin] 5. Mansaku Nomura / Taue [Kyogen] 6. Mansaku Nomura / Nanatsugo [Kyogen] 7. Hatsuko Kikuhara / Ukibune [Sokyoku] 8. Seikin Tomiyama / Ryukyu-gumi [Shamisen]
Price: £24.99
CD 1 has Gidayu [narrative shamisen] from famous stories and kokyu [bowed lute] performances. CD2 has Nagauta [lyrical form of shamisen music] from popular Kabuki plays and Tokiwazu, another narrative shamisen style. Tracks 8 and 9 are from old 78 records.
CD 1 is of Kiyomoto [shamisen genre] shinuchi [master storyteller] koto and shakuhachi performances. CD 2 has biwa [Endan Biwa, Satsuma Biwa, Chikuzen Biwa] hauta [short shamisen songs]and other songs. Price: £24.99
CD 1 has shakuhachi [Fukeshu or zen buddhist sect with shakuhachi players, Tozan school, Kinko schools], Mingshin-Gaku [Chinese music popular in Japan in late 19th century] Yamato-Gaku [20th century genre of shamisen music] Ginei [type of song] Rokyoku [narrative shamisen style] Minyo [local folk], Tsugaru Shamisen [shamisen style from northern Japan] and Hayashi [percussion ensemble] CD 2 has modern compositions for koto, shakuhachi and shamisen.
New release on Makoto Kubota's label. Awa Odori, or the Awa Dance Festival takes place in Tokushima, Shikoku every Obon, during August. It is considered the largest dance festival in Japan with about 1.3 million attending. Koenji is an area of Tokyo, popular with students, that has developed its own Awa Odori. It was started in 1956 by immigrants from Tokushima and has become the second largest dance festival in Japan with 12,000 dancers, 188 groups and over 1 million visitors. Kubota has become entranced with this Koenji Awa Odori, particularly the groove, the zomeki. This is a 2 CD 12 track set of those sounds, mainly taiko drums, kane bell and shinobue flute. It's a sound that has been heard in Japan for centuries but has become urbanized over time.
Price: £20.99
Album that links Japanese traditional music with European classical music, particuarly Chopin. Various Japanese music that was popular when Chopin was alive 200 years ago, the Edo period in Japan. The album starts with a Chopin Prelude and ends with a Chopin nocturne played on the koto. In between are tunes linked with nature such as rain, thunder, streams, waterfalls, insects, birds and frogs played on narimono percusssion, with styles incorporated from nagauta, gidayu and kabuki.
1. Prelude 2. Amaoto 3. Uchiwa Ame 4. Amaoto 5. Namioto - Namiuchigiwa 6. Namioto - Kawanami 7.Mizuoto [Ogawa] 8. Takioto 9. Yukioto 10. Kazaoto 11. Mushi no Ne 12. Kotori 13. Kari 14. Crow 15. Uguisu [Japanese bush warbler] 16. Hototogisu [little cuckoo] 17. Niwatori [hen] 18. Chidor [plover] 19. Tobi [kite] 20. Higurashi [cicada] 21. Fukurou [owl] 22. Kakkou [cuckoo] 23.Kaeru [flogs] 24. Akanbou [Baby] 25. Akikaze no Kyoku 26. Nagauta Akiirodane 27. Gidayu - Yadoya no Dan from 'Ikiutsushi Asagao no Hanashi' 28. Ya no Ne [Nagauta Daisatsuma] 29. Echigojishi [Nagauta] 30. Kanjincho [Nagauta] 31. Shinobu Yoru Koi no Kusemono, Masakado [Tokiwazu] 32. Hokushu Chitose Kotobuki, Hokushu [Kiyomoto] 33. Dodoitsu 34. Shinbo Kodaiji 35. Suzugamori - Daimokuzuka no Ba 36. Mariuta [sokyoku] 37. Kadozuke [shakuhachi] 38. Ninba [ Edo no Matsuribayashi] 39.Noctune
Compilation album of kouta - short songs, dating back to the Meiji period until recent times, sung by about 70 singers include Toyo Kasuga, Kocho Tade and Ichimaru. This is the type of music most commonly associated with geisha. Price: £25.99
Rokyokyu storyteller and singer Takeharu Kunimoto plays shamisen and tells the story of the samurai lord and warrior, Kiyomasa Kato.
1. Kato Kiyomasa Den - Yokoto Gorou 2. Kato Kiyomasa Den - Nijoujou Kaiken 3.Kato Kiyomasa Den - Yokoto Gorou [karaoke] 4. Kato Kiyomasa Den - Nijoujou Kaiken [karaoke]
Introducing the best performances of Rakugo artist Shofukutei Shokaku VI who died in 1986, performing in 1979.
Price: £109.99
Anyone who has watched Japan's national sport, sumo, will know it is filled with sounds and music. Before each bout, the yodibashi caller announces the names of the wreslers by singing their names. Jinku itself, is a kind of song about daily news filled wit and humour. This album includes a sumo jinku called 'Touchi Kyoukou' singing thanks and farewell to everyone at the end of 'senshuraku', the final and fifteenth day of a tournament. The 14 singers include current and ex Sumo wrestlers plus professional minyo singers. A fascinating insight into a fascinating world. Comes with English version of Touchi Kyoukou.
1. Sumo Jinku [Touchi Kyoukou, Atouta, Onagori] 2. Touchi Kyoukou 3. Sumo Oondo 4. Touchi Kyoukou English Version
Yasukazu Kano started learning drums and joined the legendary taiko group Kodo in 1987. He toured the world with Kodo playing primarily shinobue - bamboo flute- for the next 10 years, turning solo in 1997 and continuing to live on Sado island. Kano's shinobue is accompanied by piano, guitar, tabla and other instruments.
1. Hizashi 2. Yukiwari-so 3. India 4. Shiawase-ni - Wishing You 5. Sora o Oyogu Kumo 6. Take ni Suzume 7. Hatsure 8. Hanabiyori 9. Nipponia Nippon 10. Toki no Mai Price: £23.99
Shunie is the ceremony of water and fire that takes place in Nara's Todai-ji temple, also known as Omizutori. The ceremony is held from March 1st to 14th, its conclusion signalling the beginning of spring. Eleven priests pray for world peace and the prosperity of Japan. This ceremony has been practiced for over 1200 years.
1. Goirei, Hattsukan, Goikaji, Shihokaji 2. Wajiyosaijo 3. Niyoraipai, Hashirigotai, Shidaikozui, Raidaikozui, Dattan. 4. Goyashiokanju, Zensaho, Hattenkaji, Taimastsutenka, Taimatsukaji. 5.Dokyou 6.Nanboku Tenko 7.Kuyoumon 8.Nyoraibai 9.Sange 10.Shugan Daishugan 11.Shoumyou Keka 12.Hougou 13.Gotai 14.Hotsugan 15.Gobutsugyomyou 16.Daisange 17.Shousange 18. Hage Goyanoke 19.Shingyou 20.Gogyoudou 21.Ekoumon 22.Bikumoushi
Orchestra Asia Japan is an ensemble of some 30 musicians made up of the Japanese members of the even larger Orchestra Asia. They perform classic traditional material from the hogaku (traditional) gakaku (imperial) and even kabuki worlds on shakuhachi, koto, shakuhachi, biwa and various percussion but give the material a modern twist. 1. Gion Shoja 2. Kanjincho 3. Genroku Hanami Odori 4. Ettenraku 5. Kuzure 6. Nozakimura 7. Tsuru no Sugimori 8. Chidori no Kyoku 9. Sakura Price: £23.99
Compilation of all the major Japanese instruments and masterpieces. Artists include Toshiko Yonekawa, (koto), Kinsho Yoshioka (koto) Kunaicho Gakubu (gagaku) Masakazu Terai (nohkan) Katsuya Yokoyama (shakuhachi).
Live recordings of some of Japan's most famous festivals. 17 tracks. Festivals include Orochon no Hi Matsuri, Aomori no Nebuta, Yokote no Kamakura, Kanda Matsuri, Chichibu no Yomatsuri. Price: £22.99
Excellent value 5 CD box set that includes all the major styles of Japanese traditional music and many of the great master musicians. CD1- Noh, CD2- Sokyoku (koto) CD3- Shakuhachi, Biwa, CD4- Nagauta, Joruri, CD5- Hauta, Kouta, Zokkyoku, Hayashi. Artists include Motomasu Kanze, Hideo Hosho, Mari Uehara and Tokiko Negishi.
Another excellent value box set this one of 6 CDs covering all the major styles and instruments; jiuta, sokyokyu, shakuhachi, nagauta, Tokiwazu biwa, hauta, yokyoku, gagaku, kiyomoto. Artists include Seikin Toyama, Fumiko Yonekawa, Reibo Aoki, Motomasa Kanze, Hideki Togi. Price: £39.99
Haru no Umi (Spring Sea) is one of Japan's most famous classical tunes for koto. This CD features eight versions recorded from the 1940s, 50s and 70s, each with a different instrument playing with the koto. The opening fascinating version features the composer of the tune, and master of koto Michio Miyagi, with a French violinist recorded in the 1940s. Elsewhere the Bolivian quena, flute, shakuhachi as well as full orchestra are featured. The final track is the original version together with shakuhachi recorded in the 1940s. Wonderful.
Fantastic double CD of an introduction to Japanese traditional music. Just about everything is covered here. All the styles, from very ancient (jomon) stone whistles, gagaku (the oldest classical music in the world) shomyo (Buddhist chants) and noh. All the instruments, shakuhachi, koto, shamisen, biwa and kokyu. The music of Okinawa, the Ainu, urban and local. Traditional, modern, new recordings, archive recordings. Comes with informative English liner notes. A landmark release for those who want the definitive guide to Japanese traditional music. Price: £29.99
Truly remarkable recordings of a lost Japan.Traditional instruments,(koto,shamisen, shakuhachi), Nagauta(songs), and original minyo (folk songs) from various areas of Japan. An important historical document, but equally an atmospheric CD of largely accesible music.
Definitive, groundbreaking collection of 12 CDs of Kokyoku, 'old pieces' originally performed during the Edo period (pre-1868) that have been preserved and still performed today. Following the arrival of Commodore Perry in 1853 under Western influence the new Meiji government was established in 1868 beginning the modern era or kindai. The Edo period is known as kinsei (pre-modernization) and what is called 'traditional' in Japan is generally something that originated during kinsei, before Meiji. Kokyoku is often associated with kabuki theatre although with the exception of Kato- bushi music used in the kabuki play Sukeroku and a few Ogie pieces, they are rarely used in kabuki today. Kokyoku are therefore nowadays almost exclusively performed in concert. The preserved pieces on these CDs are performed in almost the identical way they were during the Edo period, in the way of singing and shamisen playing, styles that have all but disappeared from kabuki. Each style has its own performers who specialize in that particular form. The styles represented on this box set are the four styles of Icchu-bushi, Ogie-bushi, Kato-bushi and Miyazono-bushi. The performers include Icchu Miyako, Otsuchu Miyako, Setsu Ogie, Chika Ogie, Setsuko Yamabiko, Chikako Yamabiko and Senroku Miyazono. Price: £139.99
Includes gagaku (ancient orchestral music), Noh (theatre), Tsugaru shamisen (lute) shakuhachi (flute) taiko drumming and even the drums that accompany sumo wrestling. Good for anyone wishing to discover the varied traditional instruments of Japan and comes with English liner notes.
Wide ranging compilation of traditional songs from throughout Japan, including shomyo (buddhist ceremony), noh (theatre) songs to accompany kabuki and bunraku theatre and minyo, folk music. English liner notes. Price: £20.99
Hakushu Kawase is one the top players of the kokyu, Japan's only bowed lute.It is often used in koto trios, indeed some players of koto can also play kokyu including Kawase. It has been used with two, three and four strings. It is played with a wide vibrato, its tone similar to other bowed stringed instruments in Asia, such as China and Vietnam. This CD features ten tunes from Japan, Mongolia, China, Vietnam and Indonesia.
Double CD (clocking in at over 140 mins) of solo Hichiriki, (Gagaku flute) plus koto, other flutes such as the fue, sho, the lute instrument the biwa, and voices. Tougi and other featured musicians come from a long line of traditional music in their families, on an album of exquisite music. Gagaku, or court music, can sound rather eerie at first, but mesmorizing after a while. Classy packaging, and beautifully recorded. Gagaku has recently been hijacked by some into an easy listening melange of pop tumes, so it's good to hear the real thing. Price: £39.99
Traditional lullabies, children's songs, and other lyrical songs performed on the fue, the Japanese lute by a master of the tradition. Accompanied by biwa, koto, three other fue players and taiko drums. 15 tracks.
Part two concentrates purely on children's songs. 23 tracks, beautifully recorded and performed.
Price: £23.99
Kishiwada Danjiri Matsuri is one of the wildest festivals in Japan dating back around 300 years, with it's origins in offering prayers for a bountiful harvest. Men pull a huge portable shrine the 'danjiri' (4 meters high and weighing more than 4 tons) around town. Attached to the shrine is about 200 meters of rope which is pulled by between 500 and 1000 men at breakneck speed. The highlight of the festival is called "Yarimawashi", whereby the danjiri is pulled into a narrow alley, then immediately turned around a corner. An amazing spectacle. This extraordinary 2 CDset is a live recording of each of the main events of the festival. It manages to capture the electric atmosphere and comes with an extensive booklet (Japanese) with photos, maps and diagrams.
Ever wondered what they are laughing about in traditional Japanese comedy? Now you can find out with a CD of rakugo or comic story telling, as this is in English! Rakugo dates back at least 400 years. The performer sits down or stands up surrounded by an audience, with whom he exchanges quips and interacts. The rakugo performer takes on several roles in a story, which often reflect 18th century Japanese culture and society. The monologue climaxes with a ochi (fall) or sage (lowering), whereby the wordplay is suddenly interrupted. This wonderful CD features three episodes, all told in English. Price: £20.99
