Masterpieces of Koto

Michio Miyagi - Masterpieces of Koto

From the liner notes:

Mr. Michio MIYAGI, 62, composer and a player of the Koto, a Japanese musical instrument, was world-renowned and second to none in the field of Koto music, one of the most traditional musics of Japan. Mr. Miyagi died June 24, 1956, in a most unfortunate railway accident.
This album was edited not only for praying for the bliss of the great master's death but in eternal memory of his artistic achievements.
This collection of Koto pieces, establishing his reputation as a composer and player, shows most distinctively his genius for music.

SAKURA VARIATION

In his twenties, Miyagi was influenced by the works of such foreign composers as Elman, Kreisler, and Zimbalist who made a visit to Japan at that time. Miyagi composed this variation in 1923. The original theme is a Koto song "Sakura" (Cherry-blossoms).
He used two 13-string Kotos and one 17-string Koto, equivalent to the violin, viola and cello in foreign style and opened a new phase in the world of Koto music. This style was undreamed of by the Koto players of this time.

RAIN IN LONDON

After taking part in the International Nations' Music and Dancing Festival held in France and Spain in July, 1953, Mr. Miyagi visited the British capital, London. It had kept raining all night, and the sound of the rain dripping from the high roof of the building gave him a poetic image that silver gems (he had seen rain in his childhood before loosing his sight) were dropping to the ground with a beautiful, heavenly sound. He composed this impression in two short days in London and broadcasted it to the British public, through B.B.C. for the first time.

SARASHI

This was composed by Miyagi in 1951. It is a duet of a high-pitched Koto and a bass Koto.
"Sarashi" means bleaching. In olden days, cloth was bleached in the streams. The stream of water is expressed in allegro and the popular Japanese classic song is expressed in andante. The pleasant arrangement of its quick and slow tempos in an excellent contrast can be greatly appreciated by the lover of good music.

SPRING SEA

Miyagi composed this in 1929 as a duet - the Koto and the "Shakuhachi" (A Japanese Bamboo Flute). In it he conjures an image of the peaceful spring sea doted with islets resplendent with flowers, an image inspired by a boat journey on the Inland Sea. You will enjoy a boatman's song, the sound of waves and scull, voice of a plover, etc, in this image.
This work has gained favor as a historic work of great value. A French lady violist, Renee Chernet, who visited Japan in 1932, was very fascinated by this piece and rearranged the part of Shakuhachi for violin. the rearrangement was played in a concert with the composer.

ROKUDAN

Opinion is divided as to the actual composer of this six-part tone, but a blind court musician, Yatsuhashi, who died in 1685, has been supported as the valid composer.
This is the typical masterpiece of Koto composition, with no words, in pursuit of the pure formal beauty of the sound.

SEOTO-The Sound of Rapids

When Mr. Miyagi made a recital tour to Joetsu District (Northern part of Japan) in the summer of 1923, he composed this music. It was inspired by the impressions he felt while standing on the bank of the Tone River, one of the three rapid rivers in Japan.
As Smetana left the world-famous music describing the River Moldau in Bohemia, so does Mr. Miyagi describe the voice of the flowing of the Tone. This masterpiece was played in duet - 13-string and 17-string Koto instruments.

THREE CHILDREN'S PLAY SONGS

Playing at Handball
Playing Hide and Seek
Playing Train

Miyagi was very interested in the old Japanese children's songs and folk songs which have been sung for centuries and are still cherished by the Japanese people of today. He recorded this in November, 1953. This evinces, in full, his technical skill and superiority in the art of Koto playing.

MIDARE

This, too, was composed by the old court musician, Yatsuhashi, 300 years ago. Like "Rokudan", it was composed in 10 grades of tone for the purpose of expressing the pure formal beauty of the sound only. However, the musical conception is expressed freely and in irregular timing. It is said that the title "Midare", meaning disorder, was given because of its irregular and unfixed timing of the tones.

Tracklisting:

Side 1

1. Sakura Variation {6:27}

2. Rain in London {4:04}

3. Sarashi {7:18}

4. Spring Sea {6:09}

Side 2

1. Rokudan {5:39}

2. Seoto: The Sound of Rapids {5:25}

3. Three Children's Play Songs {4:49}

4. Midare {7:20}

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