The Songs of Kazuno

$18.99
Label
Affetto Records
Release Date
January 3, 2025
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Various
    • PERFORMER
      Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      January 03, 2025
    • UPC
      195269296582
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      AF2404
    • LABEL
      Affetto Records
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      1
    • GENRE
      Modern Era
    Works ⌄

    1. Dai-no saka (version 1)

      Composer: Traditional

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    2. Dai-no saka (version 2)

      Composer: Traditional

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    3. Hamabe-no Uta (Song of the Beach)

      Composer: Tamezō Narita

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    4. Kon'ban'-san (Good Evening)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    5. Akibare (Clear Autumn Day)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    6. Akizora-ni utau (Sing to the Autumn Sky)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    7. Kikyo (Chinese Bellflower)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    8. Wasurenagusa (Forget-Me-Not)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    9. Suzuran' kosuzu

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    10. Komori (Bat)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    11. Kaeru Tsubame (Returning Swallow)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    12. Akai sori (Red Sleigh)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    13. Omocha-no Machi (Parade of Toys)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    14. Kodomo-no Ave Maria (Children's Ave Maria)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    15. Yama-wa yuyake (Sunset in the Mountains)

      Composer: Jujin Odajima

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    16. O-tera-no Kane (Temple Bell)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    17. Kitsune-no yomeiri (Fox's Wedding)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    18. Usaghi (Rabbit)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    19. Suzume-no me (Sparrow's Eyes)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    20. Hibari (Lark)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    21. Sasabune (Bamboo-Leaf Boat)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    22. Nen'ne-no sato (Childhood Home)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    23. Uba-no sato (My Nanny's Village)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    24. Bira (Flyers)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    25. Hisa-no hoshi (Hisa's Star)

      Composer: Kyoichi Enda

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    26. Dojokko-Funakko (Loaches and Crucian Carps)

      Composer: Kyoichi Enda

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki

    27. Hitotsu-Boshi (Morning Star)

      Composer: Takatomo Kurosawa

      Performer: Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki


This album represents a trove of new and never-before recorded songs from the Kazuno region in northern Japan world premiere recordings. Many of the works by renowned local Kazuno children's song composers were largely unknown with beautiful melodies, even though the Japanese culture reveres children's songs, taught to children and sung often by both children and adults. The scores for these children's songs were not published for commercial sale and were believed to be inaccessible but were lent to soprano Wakako Kawasaki by two individuals residing in Kazuno who possessed complete children's songs collections of composers Jujin Odajima and Takatomo Kurosawa for this recording project, as these works of these great composers from Kazuno were not even being sung in their hometown. These collections were used as the base works for the album in addition to pieces composed by Sapporo composer Kyoichi Enda, inspired by Japanese author Ryusuke Saito's story of the Kazuno floods. The album also includes a revival performance of "Dainosaka," a song associated with the Kemanai Bon Dance not sung since the early Showa period (1926-1989), arranged with piano accompaniment by Dr. Akiko Hosaki. Today "Dainosaka" is performed only with flute, drum, and dance, but historical records indicate it was accompanied by song as well. "Dojokko Funakko," was discovered on an original song monument at a temple in Kazuno and added to the album. The album is the result of years of research and discussions with Japanese musicologists in order to create a collection which will be historical in the annals of Japanese music