MP3 Cathy Spagnoli and Kazu Honda - Tales in Two Voices: Uguisu Hime

Two talented storytellers weave ghost tales, true stories and more together in Japanese and English, enhanced by Japanese flute and percussion.

8 MP3 Songs in this album (50:46) !
Related styles: SPOKEN WORD: Storytelling, KIDS/FAMILY: Children's Storytelling



Details:
For centuries in Japan, as elsewhere, stories have passed on values and heritage, bringing the distant near. Cathy Spagnoli and Kazu Honda are two modern storytellers who seek to build storytelling bridges between their two cultures, and to remind listeners of various ages how vital the timeless art of the storyteller still is in todayâs fast-paced world. They weave English and Japanese into stories that speakers of either language can follow, while enjoying the rhythm and beauty of both languages, and the power of the musical accompaniment.

Since 1980, Cathy Spagnoli has given storytelling programs across the U.S. and Asia. She has researched Asian storytelling traditions with support from The Japan Foundation, The Korea Foundation, U.S.I.A., and others. Cathy has met hundreds of Asian storytellers, and written 17 books of Asian tales, including several co-authored with her husband, Indian sculptor S. Paramasivam.
Kazu Honda is a talented storyteller from Kanazawa, known for her elegant storytelling in Japan and overseas. Kazu has a wide repertoire of Japanese stories, much experience, and a large network of supporters. Her stories are often told with musicians, and her knowledge of Japanese story and poetry is wide ranging.

The two storytellers began working together in Japan in 1994 and have shared their bilingual tales widely in the U.S., Singapore, and Japan. This is their first CD.
Reactions to Their Storytelling Programs


Cathyâs collaboration with Kazu Honda was very enchanting. They both told the same stories but Cathyâs voice reminded me of the great earth of America and Kazuâs was like a breeze through Japanese bamboo trees. First I wondered how the two styles of storytelling could match together, and then I found they were perfectly melted together and made up a unique world.
Sachiko Fukami
Junior High School Teacher

Kazu and Cathy are the first bilingual storytellers I have ever listened to. The overlapping sound of Japanese and English is as pleasant as listening to music, and a scene expressed in both Japanese and English opens up a richer and wider world to the viewer. Their voices harmonize like beautiful music.
Mamiko Tamura
English language instructor

âKazu Honda and Cathy Spagnoli's storytelling transcends conventional notions of languages, that of Japanese and English. Here, storytelling becomes a vehicle for cultural exchange. Their storytelling is successful because they do not merely translate and repeat what the other has said in the other language. They think of what and how they can convey meaning to two different cultural groups through the manipulation of sound. The contrasting qualities of expressions in Japanese and English storytelling are wonderfully surprising. Finally, this bilingual storytelling is truly an opportunity to foster cross-cultural communication in an era when global friendship is a key to world peace.
Ryuichi Ohgushi
Kanazawa University

Kazu and Cathy presented a truly rich look at Japan, past and present. Their choice of story material and their skill in weaving together two languages while keeping us enthralled impressed all of their listeners.
Cathy Palmer
Seattle International Childrenâs Festival