Some of the most dramatic and compelling music of the great composer and koto virtuoso Sawai Tadao for koto, shakuhachi bamboo flute, and violin.

5 MP3 Songs
WORLD: Asian, CLASSICAL: Chamber Music

Show all album songs: Spell of Spring: Selected Works of Sawai Tadao (Volume I) Songs


Details:
Some of the most dramatic and compelling music of the great composer and koto virtuoso Sawai Tadao (1937-1997), performed by American koto master Elizabeth Falconer, with John Falconer (shakuhachi bamboo flute) and Tari Nelson-Zagar (violin).

This recording is the result of a year-long series of Sawaiâs music that Duo En produced in Seattle entitled âSimply Sawai: A Concert Series in Four Seasonsâ in 2007-08.

DUO EN (John and Elizabeth Falconer) is a duo bound to Japan, music, and each other and, after studying in Japan for 12 years, now specializes in sharing âJapanese music...with an original touchâ. Elizabeth studied under Sawai Tadao and his wife Kazue in Japan and was a member of their ensemble. She writes: I first met Sawai-sensei in 1984 when I interviewed him after a concert for The Japan Times. The impression I received then was the one that stayed for years after; warm, lighthearted, softspoken and elegant. His performances were magical; he might lift an eyebrow as he played, but the music seemed effortless, and was as smooth as silk. In learning from him, his comments were to the point and detailed, and he was always ready to laugh at simple jokes or blunders.â John, who has both performed with Sawai and commissioned a work from him for Elizabeth, writes, âWhenever I think of him I smileâ¦he was a friend as well as mentor to many.â

Tari Nelson-Zagar is a third generation violinist and improvisor whose focus is collaborating with composers, choreographers, and other creative artists. Nelson-Zagar's involvement with contemporary music began in her late teens when, having moved to San Francisco from Montana, she worked with Kent Nagano and visiting composers in the Berkeley Symphony Orchestra. She worked as a violinist in professional orchestras until the early 1980's when she left the violin for the contrabass, working with many of the most adventurous Northwest jazz and improvised music artists to be heard at the time. In the mid 90's, the call of the violin was just too strong, and Tari returned to her home instrument.