An anthology of unique and uplifting arrangements/compositions for a cappella, choral, instrumental jazz/pop and more by Yumiko Matsuoka, founder of Boston-based a cappella quintet Vox One.

12 MP3 Songs in this album (49:41) !
Related styles: Spiritual: Inspirational, Jazz: Jazz Vocals, A Cappella

People who are interested in The King’s Singers The Singers Unlimited should consider this download.


Details:
Thanks for visiting! Iââ¬â¢m originally from Tokyo, Japan, and grew up there as well as in London, UK.

From early on, I was always drawn to great harmony and chord progressions, be it a cappella or otherwise. Became a huge fan of the Beatles at a summer camp in England, and was hooked on pop music of the early ââ¬Ë70s. Back in the day when cassette tape recorders came on market (reveals how old I am, doesnââ¬â¢t it?), I used to record TV ads and sitcom themes that got my attention by sticking the mic to the small speaker. The buzz that came with the music! Didnââ¬â¢t matter, though. I somehow knew exactly what I liked, without being able to explain why. Then came the Christmas break during my senior year in high school when everything changed ââ¬â hearing Singers Unlimitedââ¬â¢s Christmas album ââ¬â it blew my mind, and I knew I wanted to write and sing in an a cappella ensemble like that. But I was a terrible piano student, and there was no way I was going to a conservatory.

So I went to a liberal arts college in a suburb of Tokyo. There was another life-changing event there, and as bitter as it was, it eventually prompted me to pursue a career in music. I came to the US in 1986 to study at the Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. I was lucky to find amazing musicians with whom I formed my dream a cappella group, Vox One.

Vox One released five albums (which are available through other websites ââ¬â see links), but became inactive for various reasons, and in 2007, I decided to compile an album of my arrangements and compositions written over the past 20 years. I am most comfortable in the a cappella idiom, but I have written for other instruments, and youââ¬â¢ll hear some on this album.

Iââ¬â¢ve been teaching ear training (and vocal writing for a period of time) at Berklee, and still love it after 15 years.

A brief intro of the songs:

Tsubasa (it means wings in Japanese): an acoustic guitar duo piece written as a wedding gift for a couple of dear friends in Tokyo. Played by Acousticity, a guitar duo that my husband was a part of. They have been inactive, but got together for this occasion.

And so it goes: the Billy Joel classic, sung a cappella by the Western Wind, based in New York. I tried to capture the heart-wrenching sentiment of the song. One of their albums is available through CD Baby.

Scarborough Fair: one of my favourite Simon & Garfunkel songs (but then itââ¬â¢s not their original). UK being my second home, its folk songs are very close to my soul. Sung a cappella by Boston Jazz Voices.

Brett: another original written for a short documentary film that a good friend of mine created. Shows my pop roots. Played by Acousticity.

Where is love? I heard a fellow Berklee student sing this Lionel Bart gem in a recital, and he broke my heart as he sang it that I wept and wept. Wanted to write an a cappella version for a long time, and did so for the Western Wind.

Black is the colour: another beautiful song from the British Isles. This and Scarborough were written for the College Singers, an ensemble I was a member of at Berklee. Sung by BJV.

Blowinââ¬â¢ in the wind: when I was commissioned by the esteemed 21st Century Consort of Washington, DC to write an encore piece for their concert ââ¬ÅDylan (Thomas) and (Bob) Dylan,ââ¬Â I chose this song for its message. Iââ¬â¢m by no means an expert in the field of string writing, but this was a fun project. Sung by my Vox One colleague Tom Baskett, accompanied by his friends Rebecca S., Jonathan B., Javier C., and Ian T.

Eleanor Rigby: there are too many Beatles songs for me to choose a favourite, but this is definitely one of them. I wanted to maintain the original flavour, but tried (still) to make it my own. Sung by the WW.

To every thing there is a season: I wrote an anthem for my choir at the now-defunct Central Congregational Church in Newton, MA. The text from Ecclesiastes is one of my beloved passages in the Bible, and it deeply reflects my outlook on life. I used my favourite, Mixolydian mode, for this song. Sung by BJV.

Georgia on my mind: the Hoagy Carmichael classic was originally arranged for the College Singers, but my husband Tom adapted it for solo guitar. I actually like his version better than mine.

Both sides now: I loved what Gene Puerling did for Singers Unlimited with this song, and was afraid I might be too influenced by it, but the idea of going back and forth between two meters (both sidesâ⬦) made it quite different from his version. Sung by Syncopation (led by the producer of my album, Tsunenori Lee Abe) whose albums are available from CD Baby.

Skye boat song: commissioned by Women Singing of NYC, this was my first attempt at writing for womenââ¬â¢s voices. A big challenge because of limited vocal range, but it was rewarding. Yet another song from the British Isles, Iââ¬â¢m hoping that it evokes the image of gentle waves leading to the Isle of Skye, and the winds that blow through the Scottish wilderness ââ¬â the scenery I love so much. Sung by the women of Cerddorion Vocal Ensemble in New York.

I am a visual writer in the sense that I often write music with some images in my mind. I love Debussy, and itââ¬â¢s no wonder why. Iââ¬â¢m hoping that my music might bring them to you also.

Iââ¬â¢m not going digital yet because of the number of covers for which I need to obtain licenses. I know itââ¬â¢s not difficult, but donââ¬â¢t know how many downloads there may be, so Iââ¬â¢ll see how things go. I apologize for the inconvenience.