Date Composed:2004Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:October 16, 2004 - Hart House TheatreRecording Title:Kiro CD This is a loosely composed piece in which the vertically blown shakuhachi flute, high-pitched shime daiko and large brass cymbals jangara freely improvise. All five performers take random cues from one another as...
Date Composed:2007Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:December 1, 2007 - Ryerson TheatreRecording Title:Tsuzure CD Three Oni (ogre like characters) gather around the taiko reeking havoc during a ritualistic night of drumming. This piece is inspired by Gojinjo Daiko which dates back to 1577 when villagers of Noto Peninsula...
Date Composed:1991Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:November 28, 1998 - Music GalleryRecording Title:Stone Path CD This song was originally composed when I was the director of Toronto Suwa Daiko. It premiered in the early 1990’s at the group’s 10th anniversary at Ryerson Theatre in Toronto. This and my...
Date Composed:2011Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:November 18, 2011 - Fleck Dance Theatre, Toronto Two teams of drummers leap from drum to drum, until one player from each side meet in the centre for a musical bout. The gyoji (sumo referee) encourages the friendly match using his fan....
Date Composed:2001Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:August 19, 2002 - Kingston Grand TheatreRecording Title:Koku CD Gokan, literally ‘five senses’, features lively solos on the shime daiko, chappa, miya daiko, nebuta daiko and O-daiko respectively ...
Date Composed:2015Composer:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:November 28, 2015 - Fleck Dance Theatre The title of this composition is a play on words. As the opening taiko piece, all the performers are anxious to get the drumming started. The word, ‘go’ in Japanese however, means five. As this song is...
Date Composed:1997Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:December 6, 1997 - CD Release Concert Toronto Buddhist ChurchRecording Title:Tenkai CD The song’s melody was adapted from an original composition by Chinese flutist, Zhou Wei. Furyu was performed by the ensemble in front of an audience of 14,000 at Copp’s Coliseum,...
Date Composed:2012Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:November 10, 2012 - Enwave Theatre Mining for coal in Japan dates back to the 1700’s. It was not uncommon to see women, especially husband and wife, working in the treacherous mines together. Hun Kotsu Saishin loosely translates to “back breaking” work....
Date Composed:1997Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:February 18, 2017Recording Title:Tenkai CD In this piece, a variety of of wooden instruments such as hyoshigi, settaku, mokugyo, hyotan and shinobue, are employed to create the impression of a bamboo grove. These sounds are accentuated by the miya daiko, chappa, clay...
Date Composed:1994Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:December 13, 1994 - Harbourfront Studio Theatre with Toronto Table EnsembleRecording Title:Stone Path CD The chappa are a pair of small brass hand cymbals used in festivals and for Shinto ritual dance accompaniment. In recent years, many new techniques have been developed...