First of two programmes of traditional and contemporary works performed by th3 NIPPONIA ENSEMBLE
This distinguished group, awarded the Grand Prix of the Japanese Ministry of Culture, was founded by a number of young composers and virtuosi in 1964 with the aim of keeping alive traditional Japanese music. The concert includes contemporary compositions based on the traditional music with works by the Director of the Ensemble, Minoru Miki , and one by the President, Katsutoshi Nagasawi , performed by the players for whom they were written. Today:
Matsuri-Bayashl, for shinobue flute and percussion instruments
Biwa solo
The distant sound of deer, for shakuhachi duet
Minoru Miki Paraphrase after old Japanese music (1966) (first broadcast in this country) (Part of a concert given at the 1972 Berlin Festival made available by courtesy of West Berlin Radio)