April/May 2001
13186 THE ART OF THE KOTO, VOLUME
ONE - NANAE YOSHIMURA
13179 GAGAKU AND BEYOND - TOKYO
GAKUSO
These releases are fine introductions to two of Japan's most important
musical traditions. The Art of the Koto is the first of four
volumes. This one focuses on the music of the Edo period (1600-1868).
Yoshimura has a delicate, yet confident touch on the koto. Satomi Fukami
accompanies her on shamisen and koto on two of the five tracks. Both
women have long performance careers, and this shows in their deft playing.
Gagaku and Beyond highlights Japan's thousand-year old music
and dance tradition. The 16-piece orchestra, led by Tadaaki Ohno, plays
a representative sampling of the gagaku repertoire, walking a
tightrope between restraint and passion. Steven G. Nelson's liner notes
are scholarly and in-depth. His descriptions of the instruments are
particularly good - detailed and readable.
June/July 2000
13182 MUSIC OF TIMOR - VARIOUS
ARTISTS
The music of the South Pacific island of Timor is lovingly documented
on the 23 tracks on this disc, which were recorded digitally in 1990
by ethnomusicologist Margaret Kartomi. Although stylistic links to Indonesian
music are evident, with the pieces performed by a Sasando-gong orchestra
sounding much like a Balian gamelan, others are performed on local versions
of western instruments like the viola and guitar, in addition to chanted
sections and flute pieces. The disc is accompanied by an extensive essay
covering the social and musical customs of western Timor.
April/May 1999
13176 CRESCENT MOON
- OMAR FARUK TEKBILEK
Here's another album that presents the multi-instrumentalist Omar
Faruk Tekbilek's always-interesting, intriguing and well-crafted blend
of the contemporary and the traditional Middle Eastern style. Nine
of the 10 tracks are by Tekbilek, and six of these are his arrangements
of folk or classical pieces from the Arab, Turkish, or Armenian traditions.
Although he deploys synthesizers and some keyboards in his arrangements,
traditional Middle Eastern instruments are the heart of the ensemble.
Tekbilek plays ney (flute), zurna (oboe), baglama (Turkish lire),
and is joined by eight guests, including longtime collaborators Ara
Dinkjian, Arto Tuncboyaciyan, Hassan Isikutt (presumably on oud, percussion
and kanun [plucked zither], respectively) as well as Brian Keane,
Steve Roach and Yuri Yunakov (presumably on keyboards, synthesizer,
and saxophone, respectively: the booklet doesn't list who plays what).
My favorite selections are the slow, moody song "Salute to the Sun"
featuring ney and oud with synthesized sounds transporting the listener
to the middle of a windy desert, and the delightful "Adanali," which
projects the feel of a Greek dance tune (Is that a bouzouki I hear?).
Crescent Moon offers 66 minutes of exciting, fresh, creative music.
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