Fumie Hihara & Sozan Chiaki Kariya
Japon Traditionnel - Koto & Shakuhachi (CD)

SA141219

On this album we hear the great virtuosity of Fumie Hirara on the koto, sometimes known as ‘the Japanese harp’, and the subtle playing of Sôzan Chiaki Kariya, a master of the shakuhachi flute. Contemporary compositions are included, as well as much older pieces, some of them attributed to the founder of koto music, Yatsuhashi Kengyô (1614-1685).
The KOTO is a type of zither with movable frets. Its slender, rectangular body is about 180 centimetres long, and it has thirteen strings (originally made of silk, but most performers today use synthetic strings, which are stronger). These are plucked by means of three plectra worn on the thumb and first two fingers of the right hand. It is widely assumed that the koto was introduced into Japan around the beginning of the Nara period (710-784). It was played for many years at the imperial court, before being democratised.
This album illustrates the instrument’s great versatility. Played solo, accompanying a song or the subtle shakuhachi, it is just as at ease in contemporary music as it is in music written several centuries ago, such as the piece entitled Midare, which is attributed to the founder of koto music, Yatsuhashi Kengyô (1614-1685). It was Michio Miyagi who promoted the musical language of the koto in Europe, notably with Haru no uni (The Sea in Springtime) for koto and shakuhachi, which is the best known of all works played on the koto.
The SHAKUHACHI is an end-blown notched flute made of bamboo, said to be capable of imitating every sound in nature. The modern standard version has five holes, four for the fingers and one for the thumb, and uses anhemitonic pentatonic tuning. The shakuhachi originated in China and reached Japan in the eighth century. During the Edo period (1603-1867) it was played only by Buddhist priests at first, before becoming the instrument of the samurai. From the late nineteenth century onwards, following the Meiji Restoration (1868), it began to be used for secular music. In 1896 Nakao Tozan (1876-1956) founded the Tozan School (Shin-Tozan Ryû), which became famous throughout Japan. Shakuhachi playing is now taught as an art. The instrument has a conical bore, narrowing at the bell end; playing requires perfect breath control. The player blows across the top of the open end of the bamboo tube; the blowhole is so large that some of the air escapes, which gives the shakuhachi its characteristic breathy tone colour. Here Sozân Chiaki Kariya of the Tozan School brings out all its richness and subtlety.
Sôzan Chiaki Kariya, who was born in Hyogo, near Osaka, took up the shakuhachi with his father at the age of thirteen. He received the title of Grand Master – Dai Shihan – of the Tozan School, and became its representative in France. He also studied the cello at the Paris Conservatoire (CNSM) with Maurice Gendron and Jacqueline Heuclin. In addition to his activities as a concert artist, Sôzan Chiaki Kariya teaches the shakuhachi and the cello.
Fumie Hihara took up the koto at the age of nine, then the shamisen (an unfretted three-stringed lute) when she was fifteen. She went on to follow the course in traditional Japanese music at the Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music, from which she graduated in 1998. She then launched into a multi-faceted career, playing solo and with other musicians, and composing, improvising and arranging. Fumie Hihara performs all types of music, both traditional and modern. She has been teaching the koto since 2000, in Tokyo, Yamanashi and more recently in Paris. She appears at many European festivals.

Track listing:

01.Aoi Tori (l’oiseau Bleu)4’ 53’’
02.Hiyaku (élan) 4’ 00’’
03.Sakura (Cerisier) 3’ 04’’
04.Asakazé 4’ 05’’
05.Midare 8’ 52’’
06.Kôjô no stuki hensoukyoku 5’ 17’’
07.Ame (la pluie) 11’18’’
08.Haru no umi (la mer du printemps)6’ 55’’
09.Hototogisu (Rossignol) 9’ 36’’
10.Aki no otozuré (arrivée de l’automne)7’ 23’’
Total : 65’28’’

Published: 2011

Genre: Asia & Oceanic
Label: Air Mail Music

Tags:

Japan, Shakuhachi, World Music

Fumie Hihara & Sozan Chiaki Kariya - Japon Traditionnel - Koto & Shakuhachi (CD)

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Fumie Hihara & Sozan Chiaki KariyaJapon Traditionnel - Koto & Shakuhachi (CD)

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Fumie Hihara & Sozan Chiaki Kariya
Japon Traditionnel - Koto & Shakuhachi (CD)