Folk Songs From Japan

Takahashi Yujiro | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 12, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 12, 1999
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Nimbus Records
• ASIN: B00001ZT1A
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #406,622 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tsugaru Yamauta

2. Tsugaru Jongara Bushi

3. Yamanaka Bushi

4. Yagi Bushi

5. Kuroda Bushi

6. Soran Bushi (Work Song Version)

7. Soran Bushi (Stage Version)

8. Tsugaru Sansagari Kyokubiki

9. Akita Ondo

10. Esashi Oiwake

11. Kagoshima Han'ya Bushi

12. Tsugaru Aiya Bushi

13. Nambu Ushioi Uta

14. Shinjo Bushi

15. Akita Nikata Bushi

16. Hakata Komoriuta

17. Takeda No Komoriuta

18. Edo Komoriuta

19. Tsugaru No Komoriuta

20. Itsuki No Komoriuta

See all 26 tracks on this disc

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Variety in Japanese folk song, January 15, 2000

By 

David W. Hughes (London, England) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Folk Songs From Japan (Audio CD)

My evaluation might be ever so slightly biased, since I created this CD (chose artists and tracks, wrote 20+pp of notes, translated lyrics, co-produced, advised on style etc). So I'll restrict myself to providing information. This grew out of a UK tour by five professional traditional (only a slight contradiction) folk singers and instrumentalists. Takahashi, the leader (not to be confused with the late Takahashi Chikuzan), was born in 1933 and raised in Akita in northern Japan, a hotbed of folk song and festival music. He has been one of Japan's leading folk song teachers, performers and recording artists since the early 1960s, and while living in Tokyo still retains his rural roots. As an academic but also a lover of this music, my aim was to provide a range of styles and genres, some using traditional "smelling of the earth" (tsuchikusai) voices, others more polished: unaccompanied work songs; traditional village dance songs; geisha songs; songs in free rhythm accompanied by shakuhachi bamboo flute; powerful, flashy Tsugaru shamisen "banjo", both in its improvised solo style and accompanying the equally flashy Tsugaru-region vocals; and so forth. Some of them represent the style of village amateurs (who today sometimes keep work songs alive via "preservation societies" even though machines now do the work); others are characteristic of traditional itinerant pros who would enliven a village for a few days before moving on. These are "studio" (auditorium) recordings, but with no editing or fake reverb and mostly done in one take. We chose to record fairly short versions to get a wider variety of tunes on the CD. There are 28 pages of notes, romanized lyrics and full translations. (The company, alas, finally had to sacrifice photos of the group to include all the notes - so let me tell you this is a nice-looking, personable bunch of musicians...) Although there are tons of recordings of this sort of music issued in Japan (including some older field recordings), I believe that this is the only one with full translations (and romanizations) of the lyrics plus such extensive notes. THere is also info on the "min'yō" (folk song) world in Japan in its full variety, plus of course info on instruments, the performers, further readings etc. Well, of course I think you'll enjoy this.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I had no idea they partied like this in Old Japan..., January 9, 2007

By 

Green Mule "Green Mule Inc." (Idiot, IN USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Folk Songs From Japan (Audio CD)

I was amazed at the rhythm, instumental intricacies, and vocal ranges required in these songs. These people have jam sessions. They party like there won't be an other. Japanese Songs two hundred years ahead of their time. Give them a listen. Mariah and Reba would lose in talent comparisons with these Japanese Women. The instumentalist could be playing with their teeth, setting their Shamisens, Shakuhachis, and Shinobues on fire after each set; and diving into the audience.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yujiro Takahashi is my Uncle ..., May 20, 2005

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The Fallen Angel with a broken Wing "I Cry Ou... (Dark Corner Deep Within the Mind) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Folk Songs From Japan (Audio CD)

I liked the review written by the previous person bcuz everything he said about my uncle is very respectful and in detail to what my uncle is all about. But my father as well plays the Tsugaru Shamisen his name is Tateo Takahashi and if you like this CD try Kokin Gumi which is mix of traditional japanese folk songs with a modern twist to it. I think you'll enjoy it as well.