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Hogaku: New Sounds of Japan 2009

Asia Society, New York NY. January 10, 2009

Re-envision Japanese classical music (hogaku) in a contemporary context. Two exciting new interpreters have taken the contemporary music scene by storm. The 4-member Hayashi Ensemble Fuji-Zakura, led by Harumi Mochizuki--consisting of shime-daiko (small floor drum), otsuzumi (large hand drum), kotsuzumi (small hand drum) and fue (flute)--breathes new life into shibyoshi (four rhythm), percussion music originally performed to accompany Noh theater. The duo Passion of Asia, with Tetsuro Kawashima on tenor saxophone and Etsuko Takezawa on koto (zither), creates original sounds blending jazz and hogaku through versatile improvisation. Free pre-performance lecture/demonstration at 7:00 pm with Mr. Takafumi Tanaka, Editor-in-Chief, Hogaku Journal. Co-presented with the Japan Foundation.