Tsugaru Shamisen Concert by Masahiro Nitta in Montebello, Jan. 20, Sat
Topic: Tsugaru Shamisen

 

 

Masahiro Nitta

 

A Tsugaru shamisen concert will be held on Saturday, January 20 at the Sozenji Buddhist Temple in Montebello. The concert, funded by the Japan Foundation of Los Angeles. will feature leading Tsugaru shamisen artists from Japan and the U.S.

 

 

Performing from Japan will be King recording artist, Masahiro Nitta, one of the leading talents to emerge from this increasingly popular art form.  Nitta is a two-time champion of the national Tsugaru shamisen contest held annually in Japan. 

 

Accompanying Nitta on stage will be American Tsugaru shamisen players Kevin Kmetz and Mike Penny.  Both Kmetz and Penny recently placed second and third respectively in the same annual competition held in Japan.  This was the first time any foreigner had placed so high in the competition.

 

These three musicians have been gaining recognition in Japan as well as in the United States for both their traditional as well as their newly cultivated styles of playing which implement musical techniques from a variety of world music styles.

 

The concert will also feature Japanese taiko drumming with Reverend Tom Kurai of the Taiko Center of Los Angeles.

 

The Tsugaru shamisen is a 3-stringed lute played with a large plectrum from the region known as Tsugaru in Aomori prefecture.  The Tsugaru style of shamisen is very percussive and has been incorporated in almost every type of music ranging from traditional folk to hard rock.

 

The concert begins at 7 pm at the Sozenji Buddhist Temple, located at 3020 W. Beverly Blvd, Montebello, CA  90640.  General admission tickets are $10.00. 

 

For reservations, call:  (626) 307-3839.   

Tsugaru Shamisen ensemble, Oct 9
Topic: Tsugaru Shamisen
Tsugaru shamisen ensemble “Waon” from Yokkaichi, Mie prefecture will be performing on Sunday Oct. 9 at 7:00 p.m. at the Secret Rose Theatre 11246 Magnolia Blvd. in the NoHo Theatre and Arts District of North Hollywood.
NOW FREE ADMISSION
To make a reservation, call (818) 766-3691 ext. 2.

Tsugaru shamisen ensemble “Waon” was organized by Toshihiko Minamihashi (photo)in Yokkaichi in 2003, now having fifty students enrolled. Waon’s mission is to help promote the spirit and culture of Japan though music.

For the Waon’s debut concert in the U.S., Minamihashi will be accompanied with his apprentice Kagura (photo at bottom)from Orland, Florida.

Program (Subject to change):

1.TSUGARU JYONKARA-BUSHI (SHIN-BUSHI)
Most famous Tsugaru shamisen number.
And it is easy to see the personality of player for you. Because player make ad lib for this number, it will be played with a different every time.The art of playing is beat the body of Shamisen consecutively and also making delicate melody.

?Shin-bushi? meaning is the number had made in the Showa period after world war.

2.TSUGARU AIYA-BUSHI
One of best five songs of Tsugaru Shamisen.
The origin this number came to Tsugaru from Kagoshima of Kyushu, Japanese south area.
This tune is in triple time, in rare type of Japanese folk song.

3.TSUGARU ONDO
This song sounds sentimental.
IT is difficult to play with an elaborate art.

4.YASABURO-BUSHI
The theme of this is?pick on the daughter-in-law of the Yasaburo family?.
The song without accompaniment is like a lullaby.

5.ROKU-DAN
The basic number of Tsugaru Syamisen.
It is made from six short songs (sometimes seven) and good for ensemble regardless of school.
However it is something different by every situation keep the basic melody.

6.TOSA NO SUNAYAMA
Tosa was one of big port of Japan at the northwest part in Aomori pre.
But it had become in ruins by Tsunami in 1340.
It was happen in a moment and then Tosa port had changed to sand dune by degrees.
Plaintive the old port that once flourished?..this tune represent.

7.TSUGARU JYONKARA-BUSHI (KYU-BUSHI)
Tsugaru Jyonkara-bushi had changed by era.
?Kyu-bushi? means it had made at Meiji era that had a rapid progress from under the Shogun to a modern state.

Each Jyonkara-bushi has representation of Japanese trend.

Perhaps the most interesting feature of playing shamisen is that, unlike other Japanese traditional arts which are know for precision and control, the shamisen is played improvisationally similar to free style jazz allowing each player to be expressive.

As a shamisen player’s skill grows, they often develop original and unique melodies. Because of this, the shamisen has seen a rise in popularity and appreciation amongst a new generation of Japanese musicians and their audiences.

This concert will benefit the non-profit organization Fire Rose Productions and to assist them in raising funds to contribute to this years Aids Walk.