Customer Reviews

Lullaby For The Moon : Japanese Music For Koto And Shakuhachi

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Featured here are the works of several modern composers writing for the koto and shakuhachi.

For anyone unfamiliar with these instruments, which are basic staples in Japanese music: The koto is a plucked-string instrument with silk strings and movable bridges to manipulate the pitch, played with finger picks. The shakuhachi is a magnificent flute made from the bottom of a stalk of bamboo, including the root. It takes two decades to master this instrument, which can play scales and microtones. The sound of air through bamboo is unlike any other instrument.

In combination, the koto and shakuhachi are magnificent and these compositions (including some variations on "Sakura," a very familiar theme in Japanese music) are premium quality, falling together like some act of nature.
One of the reviews below likened this music to the sound of rain falling on leaves; for some reason I think of snowfall (especially with 'Komoriuta,' which you can listen to above).

No matter. This is a delicious introduction to Asian music, and a fine entree for connoisseurs.

I like most of this CD, but one or two pieces were major disappointments. First, the good news. I absolutely loved the first two shakuhachi (bamboo flute) pieces by composer Inzan Tanaka. They are meditative yet soaring, and in particular, the "Eight Miles through a Mountain Pass" truly conjurs the image of winds blowing through a craggy, mountainous pass. It's like listening to a sumi-e ink painting come to life--one of those wonderful long scrolls on rice papers with cloudy and dark ink brushing out mountains, fog and pines.

I was disappointed with the variations on "Moonlight on a Ruined Castle." This is a traditional tune, familiar to many people. In fact, French virtuoso flutist Jean Pierre Rampal includes it as a concert piece. But the variations by composer Yamakawa are unsubtle and frankly unskilled. That made me sorry, because this is a favorite song and I just didn't like the awkward-sounding variations.

In general, on this CD, I liked the shakuhachi playing much more than the koto, even though normally I like koto music better than the sometimes eerie-sounding Japanese bamboo flute. On the whole, I like this CD a lot, with the reservations I mentioned.

This CD is a wonderful collection of traditional Japanese koto and shakuhachi music. When I first listened to this CD i just about went and bought myself a koto! The music on this CD is highly lyric, truly beautiful and touches the soul. It includes some very famous Japanese tunes, so you'll probably recognize some of the melodies. This CD is a wonderful representation of traditional Japanese music. I reccomend this CD to anyone interested in Asian music-it's also a great CD for anyone who's just getting into Asian music.

Truly one of the most relaxing and meditative CD's available. I can find no fault to this collection. The flute is exquisite, the Koto, gentle. Used during meditation, there are no sounds to jar you from your relaxed state. Everything flows well. I cannot say enough. It is just beautiful!

I bought this CD. I was looking for the CD with Haru No Umi by Michio Miyagi, but this was all I found and picked it.
Frankly, I'm dissapointed at the lack of traditional japanese songs, such as 'Aka Tonbo' or the much beloved 'Haru No Umi', and even 'Kimigayo' and 'Kazoueta'.
I loved the way they did 'Kojou no Tsuki', it sounds haunting as it is supposed to be. I disliked how 'Sakura' was done, as we have sung a better version in my chorus class ;)
However, I thorougly enjoy 'Umi: Sea Fantasy'. It sounds like something that'd be played at a festival. ..and I love the spooky yet sereneness of the shakuhachi in this piece. Overall, the CD is okay, and if you are looking for calm and serene japanese music to listen to or help you fall asleep (i listened to it last night to help me fall asleep), I'd recommend it.

I purchased this CD in order to find music for a play production set in Japan, and this turned out to be a major source for us. Very pretty and, for a listener unused to Japanese music, perhaps a good entry level disc to purchase as an introduction.

Truly one of the most relaxing and meditative CD's available. I can find no fault to this collection. The flute is exquisite, the Koto, gentle. Used during meditation, there are no sounds to jar you from your relaxed state. Everything flows well. I cannot say enough. It is just beautiful!

This music truly grows on you-the shakuhachi flute used on these recordings are beautiful- and the koto is pretty good as well. This music is very simple, but very soothing as another viewer put it. It is indeed very good meditation music-or just for listening to while cruising the web-whatever. I myself listen to it some days on my car rides to and from work-helps me unwind a bit if the day was particularly stressful! So if you are a fan of Japanese music-this CD is for you! If you are a fan of Brittany Spears-then this CD is REALLY for you-it will be good therapy. Just an attempt at a joke. Take care my friends

I seem to be the only one in the UK who listens to this type of music and I can't understand why - this is one of the best albums in my collection quite easily - telling stories as you listen to it is just half the pleasure, soothing and transient, the ensemble gives everything that I feel Japanese music should be.

This album is a shining example of the mood I imagine of traditional Japan - it takes you on musical images throughout the tracks. I definately think this is the jewel of my Japanese collection without a shadow of a doubt.

great cd!! Sooo relaxing after a stressful day, or even for meditating purpose. Thank you