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Affetto Records

The Songs of Kazuno

$18.99

Details

Composer
Various
Artist
Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
Format
CD
Label
Affetto Records
Released
Jan 03, 2025
Catalog #
AF2404
UPC
195269296582

About

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

Tracklist 27 tracks

  1. 1 Dai-no saka (version 1) 00:41
    Track
    1
    Title
    Dai-no saka (version 1)
    Duration
    00:41
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  2. 2 Dai-no saka (version 2) 02:52
    Track
    2
    Title
    Dai-no saka (version 2)
    Duration
    02:52
    Composer
    Traditional
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  3. 3 Hamabe-no Uta (Song of the Beach) 02:12
    Track
    3
    Title
    Hamabe-no Uta (Song of the Beach)
    Duration
    02:12
    Composer
    Tamezō Narita
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  4. 4 Kon'ban'-san (Good Evening) 00:31
    Track
    4
    Title
    Kon'ban'-san (Good Evening)
    Duration
    00:31
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  5. 5 Akibare (Clear Autumn Day) 02:23
    Track
    5
    Title
    Akibare (Clear Autumn Day)
    Duration
    02:23
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  6. 6 Akizora-ni utau (Sing to the Autumn Sky) 02:08
    Track
    6
    Title
    Akizora-ni utau (Sing to the Autumn Sky)
    Duration
    02:08
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  7. 7 Kikyo (Chinese Bellflower) 01:46
    Track
    7
    Title
    Kikyo (Chinese Bellflower)
    Duration
    01:46
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  8. 8 Wasurenagusa (Forget-Me-Not) 01:47
    Track
    8
    Title
    Wasurenagusa (Forget-Me-Not)
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  9. 9 Suzuran' kosuzu 02:13
    Track
    9
    Title
    Suzuran' kosuzu
    Duration
    02:13
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  10. 10 Komori (Bat) 01:53
    Track
    10
    Title
    Komori (Bat)
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  11. 11 Kaeru Tsubame (Returning Swallow) 01:30
    Track
    11
    Title
    Kaeru Tsubame (Returning Swallow)
    Duration
    01:30
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  12. 12 Akai sori (Red Sleigh) 01:28
    Track
    12
    Title
    Akai sori (Red Sleigh)
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  13. 13 Omocha-no Machi (Parade of Toys) 00:39
    Track
    13
    Title
    Omocha-no Machi (Parade of Toys)
    Duration
    00:39
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  14. 14 Kodomo-no Ave Maria (Children's Ave Maria) 02:35
    Track
    14
    Title
    Kodomo-no Ave Maria (Children's Ave Maria)
    Duration
    02:35
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  15. 15 Yama-wa yuyake (Sunset in the Mountains) 01:12
    Track
    15
    Title
    Yama-wa yuyake (Sunset in the Mountains)
    Duration
    01:12
    Composer
    Jujin Odajima
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  16. 16 O-tera-no Kane (Temple Bell) 01:22
    Track
    16
    Title
    O-tera-no Kane (Temple Bell)
    Duration
    01:22
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  17. 17 Kitsune-no yomeiri (Fox's Wedding) 00:38
    Track
    17
    Title
    Kitsune-no yomeiri (Fox's Wedding)
    Duration
    00:38
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  18. 18 Usaghi (Rabbit) 01:05
    Track
    18
    Title
    Usaghi (Rabbit)
    Duration
    01:05
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  19. 19 Suzume-no me (Sparrow's Eyes) 00:54
    Track
    19
    Title
    Suzume-no me (Sparrow's Eyes)
    Duration
    00:54
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  20. 20 Hibari (Lark) 01:35
    Track
    20
    Title
    Hibari (Lark)
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  21. 21 Sasabune (Bamboo-Leaf Boat) 01:36
    Track
    21
    Title
    Sasabune (Bamboo-Leaf Boat)
    Duration
    01:36
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  22. 22 Nen'ne-no sato (Childhood Home) 01:56
    Track
    22
    Title
    Nen'ne-no sato (Childhood Home)
    Duration
    01:56
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  23. 23 Uba-no sato (My Nanny's Village) 02:37
    Track
    23
    Title
    Uba-no sato (My Nanny's Village)
    Duration
    02:37
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  24. 24 Bira (Flyers) 01:26
    Track
    24
    Title
    Bira (Flyers)
    Duration
    01:26
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  25. 25 Hisa-no hoshi (Hisa's Star) 11:38
    Track
    25
    Title
    Hisa-no hoshi (Hisa's Star)
    Duration
    11:38
    Composer
    Kyoichi Enda
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  26. 26 Dojokko-Funakko (Loaches and Crucian Carps) 01:10
    Track
    26
    Title
    Dojokko-Funakko (Loaches and Crucian Carps)
    Duration
    01:10
    Composer
    Kyoichi Enda
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki
  27. 27 Hitotsu-Boshi (Morning Star) 01:53
    Track
    27
    Title
    Hitotsu-Boshi (Morning Star)
    Duration
    01:53
    Composer
    Takatomo Kurosawa
    Performer
    Wakako Kawasaki, Akiko Hosaki