#2379: Japan: 1000 Years of Music

New Sounds | May 24, 2010

Dip into a new collection of 1000 years of Music from Japan on this edition of New Sounds. Listen to Shomyo, or Buddhist sutra chant, one of the oldest forms of vocal music in the world. These low pitched melodious drones are accompanied by metallic percussion, and are performed not as entertainment, but for traditional Buddhist ceremonies. Plus, Australia’s Synergy Percussion perform a recent work by the late Toru Takemitsu, and there’s a whole lot of other music of Japan from the span of centuries in between.

PROGRAM #2379, New Sounds (And Old) From Japan (First aired on Feb. 22, 2005)

ARTIST(S)	RECORDING	CUT(S)	SOURCE
The Ongaku Masters	An Anthology of Japanese Classical Music	Shomyo: Shichi-No-Bongo [3:30] Gagagu: Hyojo-No-Choshi [3:30] Michio Miyagi: Haru No Umi [7:30]	Celestial Harmonies #19912 (5 CDs) www.harmonies.com
David Bowie	"Heroes”	Moss Garden [4:30]	Virgin #21908 Available at Amazon.com*
Ravi Shankar In Japan	East Greets East	Padhasapa [5:00]	Deutsche Grammophon #2531-381. Out of print, but available at himalayanhouse.com
The Ongaku Masters	An Anthology of Japanese Classical Music	James A. Franklin: Peace Bell [8:30] Toru Takemitsu: Raintree [11:30]	See above.

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