Composer's Notes Asa no Uta – Morning Praise 02/05/2017Don 朝のうた Asa No Uta (Morning Praise) – Tadao Sawai (1995) Solo koto The word ‘Asa’ is translated as morning and ‘Uta’ is translated [more]
Composer's Notes Toikin for K(Kanako) 02/05/2017Don Kの為の斗為巾 Toikin for K(Kanako) – Tadao Sawai (1991) The title To-i-kin refer to the highest 3 notes in the koto, they are often [more]
Composer's Notes Manjushaka 02/05/2017Don 曼珠沙華 Manjushaka – Tadao Sawai (1986) Manjushaka is generally known as the name of the cluster amarylilis . However it is originally a Buddhist term meaning [more]
Composer's Notes Dachura 02/05/2017Don だちゅら Dachura – Tadao Sawai (1985) 2 kotos & bass koto The first time I encountered the flower called ‘Dachura’, it was on [more]
Composer's Notes Flying like a bird 02/05/201702/05/2017Don 鳥のように Flying like a Bird – Tadao Sawai (1985) Solo koto Tadao Sawai explained that the music in this piece was about dreaming [more]
Composer's Notes Song of the Plover 02/05/2017Don 千鳥幻想 Song of the Plover – Tadao Sawai 1980 The piece “Song of the Plover”(Chidori no kyoku), was originally for voice and koto and [more]
Composer's Notes Soga 02/05/2017Don 装画 Soga – Tadao Sawai (1977) “Sōga” consists of two movements as well as several adlib sections to make it more demanding for [more]
Composer's Notes Tsuchi Ningyo 02/05/2017Don つち人形 Tsuchi Ningyo – Tadao Sawai (1972) Two kotos This piece describes the composer’s recollection of traditional clay dolls which are made in [more]
Composer's Notes Taka (Hawk) 02/05/201702/05/2017Don 鷹 Taka (Hawk) – Tadao Sawai (1972) 2 kotos This song captures the power and beauty of a bird of prey flying on the [more]
Composer's Notes Longing 02/05/2017Don あこがれ Longing – Tadao Sawai (1972) Some of Tadao Sawai’s early works were characterised by melancholic themes. However his wish was also to [more]
Composer's Notes Raden 02/05/201702/05/2017Don 螺鈿 Raden – Tadao Sawai 2 kotos and bass koto Raden’ is the name given to the traditional Chinese method of decorating wooden [more]
Composer's Notes Story of Snow Country 02/05/2017Don 雪ものがたり Story of Snowy Country – Tadao Sawai (1954) This piece was composed in the winter of 1954 and it is Tadao Sawai’s [more]