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
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). Price: £17.99
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.
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. Price: £22.99
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.
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.
Price: £16.99
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.
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. Price: £18.99
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.
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. Price: £15.99
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.
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. Price: £16.99
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.
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. Price: £18.99
Part two concentrates purely on children's songs. 23 tracks, beautifully recorded and performed.
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.
Price: £31.99
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.
