The first koto recital by Sawai Soukyokuin assistant chairperson, Urara Sawai. The performers comprised organizer Urara Sawai and special guest Hikaru Sawai. The recital featured the Koto, the 17-string Koto, and the 25-string Koto, which allowed the audience to appreciate the individuality of the three types of instrument. Five pieces were performed in all: four solo performances centering around “Toshichi no ito 〜saigetsu~” by Junnosuke Yamamoto – the premiere of a work commissioned especially for this recital – and a 17-string Koto duet performance of “Meguri Meguru” by Tadao Sawai.
Program
1.Toshi Ichiyanagi/“Fuyu no shozo for 17-string koto”
2.Hikaru Sawai/ “ASUKA”
3.Tadao Sawai/“Meguri Meguru”
4.Ryohei Hirose/ “Ukifune ‒minatagiru uji no kawabe ni ‒ for 25-string koto”
5.Junnosuke Yamamoto/ “Toshichi no ito 〜saigetsu~”
Urara Sawai
Graduated from the Music Course at Toho Gakuen College of Drama and Music and a research program at the same college. While at college she studied 17-string Koto and 25-string Koto under Nidai Souju Nosaka, Michiko Takita, and Sousei Hanaoka. Sawai also studied Koto and 17-string Koto under Hikaru Sawai. In addition, she studied Shamisen under Hidetaro Honjo and Hidejiro Honjo. She currently studies 25-string Koto under Eri Nosaka.
Sawai is assistant chairperson of Sawai Sokyokuin, and a member of The Japan Sankyoku Association and Kiri no Hibiki.
Urara Sawai
koto.recital.urarasawai@gmail.com
Toyosu civic center hall, Koto City, Tokyo