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The International Shakuhachi Society

Art of the Koto - Volume III

Art of the Koto - Volume III

"This recording comprises five works written between 1969 and 1989 for the nijugen, a version of the koto with 21 rather than the traditional thirteen strings."

Yoshimura Nanae
Celestial Harmonies - CD 0 1371 13188 2 1

Track Title Kanji Length Shakuhachi Shamisen Koto
1 Tennyo 17'22

Yoshimura Nanae
Miki’s Tennyo, gains this place of honour by virtue of the fact that is was the first ever composed for the instrument.
2 Itsutsu no Shohin - Nishikigi ni Yosete 錦木 13'58

Yoshimura Nanae
This piece, as set of five sketches named after traditional colours, was written in 1973 by Katsutoshi Nagasawa. Their warm and approachable melodies have contributed much to developing a fan base for the instrument, while the comparative simplicity of the techniques required to play them means that most nijugen players study them as part of the learning process.
3 Aki no Kyoku (Modern) 秋の曲 13'32

Yoshimura Nanae
Miki’s Aki-no-kyoku (Autumn Fantasy) of 1980 was chosen for its fresh approach toward melody for the nijugen and shakuhachi, and its exploration of the limits of virtuosity on the former.
4 Nanae 七重 12'12

Yoshimura Nanae
Nanae, by Akira Nishimura, freely explores the historical roots of the flat zither, outside the restraints of the Japanese koto tradition.
5 Kamu Ogi Guoto 神招琴 13'12

Yoshimura Nanae
Kamu-Ogi-Guoto, by Somei Sato, travels back to the ancient world of Japan’s mythological age, when the koto was used as a medium of communication with the gods. It was written with the sincere wish that the ancient gods would deign to dwell in this modern incarnation of this instrument.

The International Shakuhachi Society - 2013