Songs Of Kazuno – Wakako Kawasaki, soprano; Akiko Hosaki, piano

This album represents a trove of new and never before recorded songs from the Kazuno region in northern Japan world premiere recordings. Many of the works by renowned local Kazuno children’s song composers were largely unknown with beautiful melodies, even though the Japanese culture reveres children’s songs, taught to children and sung often by both children and adults. The scores for these children’s songs were not published for commercial sale and were believed to be inaccessible but were lent to soprano Wakako Kawasaki by two individuals residing in Kazuno who possessed complete children’s songs collections of composers Jujin Odajima and Takatomo Kurosawa for this recording project, as these works of these great composers from Kazuno were not even being sung in their hometown. These collections were used as the base works for the album in addition  to pieces composed by Sapporo composer Kyoichi Enda, inspired by Japanese author Ryusuke Saito’s story of the Kazuno floods. The album also includes a revival performance of “Dainosaka,” a song associated with the Kemanai Bon Dance not sung since the early Showa period (1926-1989), arranged with piano accompaniment by Dr. Akiko Hosaki. Today “Dainosaka” is performed only with flute, drum, and dance, but historical records indicate it was accompanied by song as well. “Dojokko Funakko,” was discovered on an original song monument at a temple in Kazuno and added to the album. The album is the result of years of research and discussions with Japanese musicologists in order to create an collection which will be historical in the annals of Japanese music.

TRACK LISTING:
毛馬内盆踊り ピアノ伴奏＝保崎明子編曲 KEMANAI FOLK DANCE

1. *大の坂 (囃子と唄＝毛馬内盆踊り保存会)
* Dai-no Saka v.1 (traditional instrumental parts and song) adapted by Akiko Hosaki 0:41
2. *大の坂 (唄＝日本民謡大観)
* Dai-no Saka v.2 (vocal solo version from Japanese Folk Song Encyclopedia) arr. by Akiko Hosaki 2:53

成田為三 TAMEZO NARITA

3. 浜辺の歌 Hamabe-no Uta (Song of the Beach) 2:12
小田嶋樹人 JUJIN ODAJIMA
4. こんばんさん Komban’-san’ (Good Evening) 0:31
5. 秋晴れ Akibare (Sunny Autumn Day) 2:24
6. 秋空に歌ふ Akizora-ni Utau (Sing to the Autumn Sky) 2:09
7. 桔梗 Kikyō (Chinese Bellflower) 1:47
8. わすれな草 Wasurenagusa (Forget-Me-Not) 1:48
9. すずらん小鈴 Suzuran’ Kosuzu (Lily-of-the-Valley, Small Bells) 2:13
10. 蝙蝠 Kōmori (Bat) 1:54
11. 帰る燕 Kaeru Tsubame (Returning Swallow) 1:31
12. 赤い橇 Akai Sori (Red Sleigh) 1:28
13. おもちゃのマーチ Omocha-no Māchi (Parade of Toys) 0:39
14. 子供のアベマリヤ Kodomo-no Abe Maria (Children’s Ave Maria) 2:35
15. 山は夕焼け Yama-wa Yūyake (Sunset in the Mountains) 1:13
黒澤隆朝 TAKATOMO KUROSAWA
16. お寺の鐘 O-tera-no Kane (Temple Bell)…可愛い童謡第一集より 1:22
17. 狐の嫁入り Kitsune-no Yomeiri (Fox’s Wedding)…可愛い童謡第一集より 0:39
18. うさぎ Usaghi (Rabbit)…可愛い童謡第二集より 1:05
19. 雀の目 Suzume-no Me (Eyes of a Sparrow)…可愛い童謡第三集より 0:54
20. ひばり Hibari (Skylark)…可愛い童謡第三集より 1:36
21. 笹舟 Sasabune (Bamboo-Leaf Boat)…可愛い童謡第五集より 1:36
22. ねんねの里 Nen’ne-no Sato (Childhood Hometown)…可愛い童謡第五集より 1:56
23. 乳母の里 Uba-no Sato (My Nanny’s Village)…可愛い童謡第八集より 2:37
24. びら Bira (Flyers)…可愛い童謡第九集より 1:27
25. 一つ星 Hitotsu-Boshi (Morning Star)…可愛い童謡第七集より 1:53
遠田京市 KYOICHI ENDA
26. *ひさの星 *Hisa-no Hoshi (Hisa’s Star) 11:38
岡本敏明 TOSHIAKI OKAMOTO
27. *どじょっこふなっこ
* Dojokko-Funakko (Loaches and Crucian Carps) 1:19
* 方言による演奏 (sung with the regional accents)