Kurahashi Yodo Wins Award

My friend held the "Kurahashi Yodo Classic Shakuhachi Solo Recital"at the Bunraku Theater in Osaka, Japan on October 28th, 2022. On December 26, 2022 he received from Japan's Agency for Cultural Affairs, the 77th Arts Festival Excellence Award. Congratulations!

Who is the Masked Lady?

During the Pandemic, I ventured on October, 2021 to the Leidecker Center for East Asian Studies at Mary Washington University in Fredericksburg, Va. Using the noh-utai lyrics to play the koto’s rendition of “Takasago,” I illustrated how three genres of Japanese music --noh-utai, nagauta, and koto music— each brought out basic features of Japanese music mentioned in my book, Japan’s Musical Tradition: Hogaku from Prehistory to the Present. The students sat masked, at a safe distance, and attentively listened to the lecture/recital. In addition, the University Book Store kindly provided copies of my book.

Are Women People? — The Songs of Lori Laitman

My friend and composer, Lori Laitman has a new CD of her songs.

It is debuting on May 27, 2021, and you can pre-save it on Spotify.

The link is: https://show.co/ntF8TJ5

Lori is a very gifted composer whose songs knows how to touch the heart.

I was fortunate to have her write music for the koto and flute--her instrument.

I am indebted to her "Rokudan-flute", "Blossoms,""Lullaby and Dreams," and "Pearls."

You'll have to hear her genius and what she has to say in "Are Women People?"

In addition, she has her Holocaust work, Wertheim Park, set to Susan de Sola's poem. It will have its official online premiere on Jan 27th. The piece is about 10 minutes long.

Details at this link: https://www.musicofremembrance.org/show-details/wertheim-park-streaming-beginning-january-27