Min'yo
of Japan - Sakura Ensemble
Japanese
traditional music and popular songs
日
本
の
民
衆
の
唄
The
Sakura Ensemble is based in Paris
Three Japanese
singers, all ladies, a shamisen, a koto, a taiko, a mokkin, an
uchiwa-daiko and other percussion instruments. This is the Sakura
Ensemble (アンサンブル桜), a trio
founded in 2003, a few years after Nobuko Matsumiya, a koto player, met percussionist Emiko Ota... in Paris!
Sakura means
'cherry blossoms'. The group interprets the
most popular folk songs from Japan, called min'yo and shin-min'yo (new
min'yo). Most min'yo and shin-min'yo express joy, are
made for dancing, amusement or encourage work. Some are funny. A Sakura
Ensemble concert is an enjoyable musical journey across Japan.
Despite their
very exotic sounds, the melodic simplicity of the min'yo makes them
universal works of art, easy to remember and which everyone can hum
after hearing them just once.
Since it was
founded, the Sakura Ensemble has been billed in concert halls across
Europe, often accompanied by dances: National Museum of Asiatic Art
- Guimet (Paris), Palais des Congrès (Paris), Lyon's National Opera
House, Scène nationale d'Aubusson, (France), mediatheques (France), festivals in France, Belgium,
Germany, Spain, Norway, etc.
Videos
of Sakura past concerts and shows in music venues
Awa odori (阿波踊り
- Dance of Awa) Awa odori is a
min'yo from the Tokushima region. It was created in 1587, as
demanded by a lord to celebrate the building of his castle.
Today, the O-Bon festival is held every year in August in
Tokushima City. It is one of the most famous festivals. With the
number of competing groups (ren) and its extravagant atmosphere,
it can be compared to the Rio Carnival. People come from the
world over. Tokushima City also has a theatre hall called Awa
Odori Kaikan where, all year round, various ren perform who only
play this title.
Awa
odori (excerpt), Lyon's National Opera
House, Japan Festival, March 2008
Otemoyan (おてもやん
- Little Lady Otemo) Otemoyan is a
humorous min'yo from the region of
Kumamoto. It tells the tale of a young bride who complains about
the ugliness of her husband. She even feels ashamed to be seen
with him; Yet she loves her man. What is not said but only
hinted through the girl's name (Otemo), is that she is far
from being a beauty herself...
Otemoyan,
Auditorium, National Museum of Asiatic Art
- Guimet, Paris, April 2007
Miyazu
bushi (宮津節
-Tune of Miyazu) Miyazu bushi is a
min'yo from the region of North-East
Kyōto. Miyazu is a port and used to be appreciated for its
‘red light’ district. The song includes some risqué
wordplay about a penniless man, but we can also understand that
he does not feel penis less...
Miyazu
bushi (excerpt), Nuits d'O (Montpellier festival, France),
August 2006
Sakura
new
CD! Released October
2008
Fumie
Hihara: shamisen - Nobuko Matsumiya: koto - Emiko Ota: wadaiko
Booklet
16 pages, English and Japanese notes * Distribution in 32 countries including Japan
* Recommended price: US $ 19,99
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
In
2004, Sakura released their debut CD for younger listeners
(quartet with shakuhachi, male voice and choir of children): Japon,
Rondes, comptines et berceuses, Ed. ARB, Paris, coll.
'Terres d'enfance'.
Listen and order from: fnac.com /
alapage.com
/ amazon.fr
Videos
of Sakura past concerts and shows in music venues
Itsuki no
komoriuta
(五木の子守歌-
Lullaby of Itsuki) Itsuki no komoriuta
is a min'yo from the
Kumamoto region. Itsuki is the name of a village. The melody is
intended as a lullaby but the song tells of the sadness and
poverty of a nursemaid.
Itsuki
no komoriuta (excerpt), Un Eté à Bourges (festival,
France), August 2008
Tokyo ondo (東京音頭
- Song of Tokyo) Tokyo ondo is a
dance song composed in 1933 by Shimpei Nakayama with lyrics by
Yaso Saijo. It is a shin-min'yo (new min'yo). The words are
about the might of Tokyo and Emperor Showa.
Tokyo
ondo (excerpt), Abbey of Sylvanès, 30th International Festival of
Holy Music, July 2007
English
translation: Laure Wright from the French texts of Philippe
Costa, author
