Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japan. Show all posts

Saturday, August 11, 2012

Atsumasa Nakabayashi Trio - Melody of Japan (Denon, ALS-4049) 中林淳真ギター三重奏団 - 日本のメロディ





"Atsumasa Nakabayashi was born in Tokyo in 1927. He began his musical studies in Japan, with the teacher Yasumasa Obara, and perfected the technique and interpretation of the guitar in Spain under the leadership of Narciso Yepes and Jose Luis Gonzalez. In 1958 he won the 1st. Prize of the International Guitar Competition in Tokyo, and was awarded by the Ambassador of Spain. In 1964 he appeared at Carnegie Hall in New York, as the first Japanese guitarist to hold this site. Invited by the Department of Cultural Affairs of Cuba, gave recitals in Havana and Santiago de Cuba. In 1984 he won the 1st. Composition Competition Prize Morishige Takei held annually in Tokyo for his suite "Dance No. 1". (Source)


A lovely survey of classic Japanese melodies arranged & performed by Nakabayashi's excellent guitar trio. Release date currently unknown. I was also unable to find the tracklist (in Japanese or English) transcribed anywhere, online. Japanese speakers, your assistance with this would be greatly appreciated. Is my observation correct that a Nakabayashi CD of the same name; 日本のメロディ, seems to have an entirely different tracklist? Enjoy!


Atsumasa Nakabayashi Trio - Melody of Japan (Denon, ALS-4049)


"Nippon No Merodei"




Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Sumire Yoshihara - Percussions In Colors : Takemitsu + Ichiyanagi (1978 - RCA Japan, RDCE-9) 320 mp3 + Flac







"'Munari by Munari' [Toru Takemitsu] is a controversial piece of percussion work which attempts to obscure the fact that the performance is made by percussion. The sound world upheald by takemitsu’s aesthetic sense represents the natural sound, like a clear and limpid stream in the mountains or the stirring in the woods as the fog drifts through. It shares the same Japanese psychology of “Mu” or nothingness…



On Ichinayagi’s work, the acute contrast in sound and the repetition of sound made a symmetry with movements in the latter half of the work, thus creating a world of wonder.


My wish now is to make a comprehensive compilation of Japanese percussion works with Sumire Yoshihara" (Hiroshi Isaka, producer- from the liner notes)

 
An adventerous and, at turns, meditative outing from Japanese avant-garde percussionist Sumire Yoshihara. 320 vinyl rip by yours truly. Enjoy.
 




Sumire Yoshihara - Percussions In Colors : Takemitsu + Ichiyanagi (1978 - RCA Japan, RDCE-9)
*also available in Flac


Side A: Munari by Munari (1967) - Toru Takemitsu, composer
Side B: Arrangements (for percussion player) - Toshi Ichinayagi, composer