Next month offers a wide selection of concerts, ranging from contemporary hogaku, Okinawan folk and protest songs to the finest of the classics. All are performed by veteran musicians. The following is a sample of what's on.
The late Tadao Sawai was an extremely talented koto player/composer, whose works sought new ground while utilizing fully the traditional sonic capabilities of the instrument. He and his wife Kazue also founded the Sawai Koto Academy, which has trained hundreds of koto players around the world.
Kazuhiro Iseki and Erina Matsumura, two very active graduates of the academy, are presenting a concert series featuring a selection of Sawai's compositions for shamisen, 13-string koto and 17-string bass koto. They will be joined by shakuhachi performer Kuniyoshi Sugawara.