Date Composed:2002Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:December 27, 2009 - Al Green Theatre, TorontoRecording Title:Koku CD Although composed in 2002 for a studio recording, the song had never been performed until November 2009. This piece simply envisions a festival during Obon, an annual Buddhist event to honour the...
Date Composed:2010Composer:Aki TakahashiArrangement:Aki TakahashiPremiere Performance:November 5, 2010 - Fleck Dance TheatreRecording Title:Iroha Live Concert DVD The deep green of TOKIWA trees. Like the English words “Ever Green”, TOKIWA implies “Never Changing” since the leaves stays green all year round. Taiko is usually synonymous with movement. Thus, this...
Date Composed:2006Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:October 13, 2006 - Al Green Theatre Although taiko come in a multitude of shapes and sizes, most can generally be classified into three families: barrel-shaped drums carved from a tree trunk; drums constructed from staves of wood; and small drums whose...
Date Composed: 2007 Composer: Kiyoshi Nagata Arrangement: Kiyoshi Nagata Premiere Performance: December 1, 2007 - Ryerson Theatre Recording Title: Tsuzure CD / 10th Anniversary Concert DVD Literally, ‘three continuous beats’, this composition features a whirlwind of solos and intertwining rhythms in various cycles of three, pounded out by three teams of drummers. San Ren On (recording...
Date Composed:2010Composer:Aki TakahashiArrangement:Aki TakahashiPremiere Performance:November 5, 2010 - Fleck Dance TheatreRecording Title:Iroha Live Concert DVD The word SHIRO [white] originated from SHIRAMU [grow light], which we can see in the morning. It is the purest and most divine colour of all. It will repel every colour and...
Date Composed:1995Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:November 14, 1997 - Canada Council for the Arts Showcase, Harbourfront CentreRecording Title:Tenkai CD As the title suggests, an underlying pulse can be heard throughout this piece even though the actual rhythms and meter are constantly changing and developing (4/4, 3/4 and...
Date Composed:2010Composer:Aki TakahashiArrangement:Aki TakahashiPremiere Performance:November 5, 2010 - Fleck Dance TheatreRecording Title:Iroha Live Concert DVD SHINONOME is a pale shade often seen in the early morning sky, slowly changing its colour as the day approaches. It is crisp as the morning air, clear and magnificent, yet...
Date Composed:2009Composer:Aki TakahashiArrangement:Aki TakahashiPremiere Performance:November 27, 2009 - Al Green Theatre, TorontoRecording Title:Iroha Live Concert DVD SHIKKOKU (Black Lacquer), bottomless darkness, is the most beautiful and dignified black. Like layering paint, the sounds of deep and heavy Taiko overlap one another. Sticky and glossy like lacquer, every...
Date Composed:2005Composer:Kiyoshi NagataArrangement:Kiyoshi NagataPremiere Performance:September 15, 2005 - George Ignatieff TheatreRecording Title:Tsuzure CD New sounds and rhythms continually emerge, swell and then recede, as groups of shime-daiko and miya-daiko overlap and build upon one another’s patterns. ...
Date Composed:2004Composer:Aki TakahashiArrangement:Aki TakahashiPremiere Performance:October 16, 2004 - Hart House TheatreRecording Title:Kiro CD The wind and waves are powerful, more so than one can imagine. How wonderful it is to take up their chorus, with one’s feet planted on the harbour walls, and letting one’s voice...