Sakura Ensemble : release of MINYO OF JAPAN, its new CD, October 6, 2008

Minyo of Japan, Traditional music and popular songs, the Sakura Ensemble's new CD, has just been released today, October 6, 2008.
















Fumie Hihara : shamisen ; Nobuko Matsumiya : koto ; Emiko Ota : wadaiko (taiko)

The Sakura Ensemble, comprising three singers and traditional Japanese instruments, plays 18 among the most popular min'yō and shin min'yō (new min'yō), the Japanese folk songs. The majority of the min'yō and shin min'yō express joy, are made for dancing, amusement or encourage work. Some are funny.

Despite their very exotic sounds, the melodic simplicity of the min'yō makes them universal works of art, easy to remember and which everyone can hum after hearing them just once.

Titles of the CD :
1. Awa odori (Dance of Awa) 2. Owase bushi (Tune of Owase) 3. Saitara bushi (Tune of Saitara) 4. O-Edo Nippon bashi (The Edo Bridge of Japan) 5. Kaigara bushi (Shell Tune) 6. Chakkiri bushi (Tune of the Tea Leave Cutters) 7. Itsuki no komoriuta (Lullaby of the Village of Itsuki) 8. Aizu Bandai-san (Mount Bandai in Aizu) 9. Kuroda bushi (Tune of Kuroda) 10. Gion kouta (Gion Ballad) 11. Yosakoi bushi (The 'Come Tonight' Song) 12. Sōran okiage ondo (Song of the Fishermen of the High Seas) 13. Kokiriko (Bamboo Sticks) 14. Miyazu bushi (Tune of Miyazu) 15. Otemoyan (Little Lady Otemo) 16. Yagi bushi (Tune of Yagi) 17. Shin Takeda no komoriuta (New Takeda Lullaby) 18. Tōkyō ondo (Song of Tōkyō)

Distribution in 32 countries including Japan.

Booklet 16 pages, English and Japanese notes, translation by Laure Wright from the French text of Philippe Costa, author. Recommended price : 19,99 US $.

A Frémeaux & Associés production : www.fremeaux.com

CD referenced by :
Musée du Quai Branly, Paris
Musée national des arts asiatiques - Guimet, Paris
Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris

Buy on-line : La Librairie Sonore (Worldwide free delivery).

Sakura Ensemble, Otemoyan, National Museum of Asiatic Art - Guimet, Paris, April 2007 :




Sakura Ensemble, Tōkyō ondo followed by Awa odori (encore), Lyon's National Opera House, Japan Festival, March 2008 :




Read the Wikipedia article about min'yō

Sakura Ensemble Website (in French, numerous videos)

Sakura Ensemble Website (in English)

Contact The Sakura Ensemble by e-mail (please replace ARROBASE by @)

Tel. Artistes Associés - Japon : +33 (0)9 62 50 36 51