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Elizabath Falconer
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Everything listed here is music involving the koto in some way. Classical recordings will have solo and multiple-koto pieces, and also ensemble pieces with shamisen and shakuhachi. Contemporary pieces can include the same instruments and often add the 17-string bass koto. Contemporary pieces may also involve instruments associated with jazz (like the sax) and western classical music (like the cello). The koto is also found in some very avant garde musical settings that can have anything (for example gyroscopes or bees!).

11 Compositions (Duo) ~ Anthony Braxton (flute, clarinet, contra-alto, contrabass, sax) & Brett Larner (koto)
Contemporary
All the Best from Japan ~ Various Artists
Classical: The Cherry Blossoms (Sakura), Pass Oh Pass, Six Variations (Rokudan), Sailing Time, Four Seasons in Kyoto, Moon over the Desolate Castle (Kojo), Soran-Bushi, O-Edo Bridge, Song of the Sandpiper (Chidori), Kuroda-Bushi, A Bridal Doll, Lullaby from Itsuki Village, Kushimoto Bushi, Coal Miner's Song
The Art of Japanese Bamboo Flute And Koto ~ Yamato Ensemble
Classical: Hachidan, Zangetsu, Shika No Tone, Yaegoromo, Yamaji
Art of the Koto, Volume One ~ Nanae Yoshimura & Satomi Fukami
Classical: Rokudan, Midare, Zangetsu, Godan Ginuta, Chidori
Also available from: World Music Store
Art of the Koto, Volume Two ~ Nanae Yoshimura, Satomi Fukami, Kifu Mitsuhashi (shakuhachi)
Classical: Shiki-no-kyoku, Hachidan, Kaede-no-hana, Onoe-no-matsu, Seoto, Haru-no-umi
Also available from: World Music Store
Art of the Japanese Koto, Shakuhachi, and Shamisen ~ Yamato Ensemble
Classical: Shin Musume Dojoji, Tsuru No Sugomori (Tenderness of Cranes), Yuki (Snow), Hoshun (Springtime), Shikyoku Ichiban (Poem No. 1), Folksongs: Ryukyu Minyo Ni Yoru Kumikyoku
Celebration ~ Washington Toho Koto Society
Classical
The Crane's Story: Tales of Love from Japan ~ Elizabeth Falconer (player and storyteller)
Contemporary: Stories and koto accompaniment.
Deep Pool ~ Elizabeth Falconer (player and composer)
Contemporary: Drawing Water from a Mountain Stream, Summer Evening, Azalea and Butterfly, Moon and Stars, Waves and Plovers (in six gestures), Deep Pool, Moon at Uji
Deluxe Nakamura ~ Brett Larner (koto) and Taku Sugimoto (guitar)
Contemporary improvisation.
Eurasian Trilogy ~ Minoru Miki (composer)
Contemporary Western orchestra with Japanese instruments: Jo-No-Kyoku (Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra with Kifu Mitsuhashi, Yumiko Tanaka, Nanae Yoshimura), Ha-No-Kyoku (Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra with Keiko Nosaka [koto]), Kyu-No-Kyoku "Symphony for Two Worlds" (Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra)
East Winds Ensemble ~ Masayo Ishigure (koto), Marco Lienhard (shakuhachi)
Contemporary: THEME MUSIC FROM HAYAO MIYAZAKI'S ANIME: Itsumo Nando Demo (Always with me)/ Spirited Away, Nausicca-Requiem / Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind, Futatabi (Reprise) / Spirited Away, Ashitaka and San / Princess Mononoke, Nausicca -Opening / Nausicca of the Valley of the Wind, Town Where You can see the Ocean / Kiki's Delivery Service, Kaze no Tori Michi / My Neighbor Totoro, Toki Jidai o Motomete / Porco Rosso, Hareta Hi ni / Kiki's Delivery Service, Ano Natsu E / Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke / Princess Mononoke, kimi o Nosete /Laputa: Castle in the Sky, ikan no Shiro / Laputa; Castle in the Sky
Evanescence ~ Yoko Hiraoka
Classical and Contemporary: Meadow Rain, Vacillation, Tsuru no Koe, Impermanence 2, Bewtween Rains, Midare, Impermanence 1, Benziten
Grace (Miyabe) ~ Masayo Ishigure (koto), Charles Tang (koto), Marco Lienhard (shakuhachi)
Classical and Contemporary: Tori No Yoni, Haru No Umi, Sunae, Futatsu No Hensoukyoku, Emu, Haru No Yo, Midnight Rain
Hana and the Dragon and Other Tales from Japan ~ Elizabeth Falconer
Folktale story telling and koto playing together.
Indistancing ~ Brett Larner (koto), Shoko Hikage (koto), Philip Gelb (shakuhachi)
Contemporary improvisation: Confluence, Volt/Going, Indistancing, Channel
"Live recording where Brett Larner's koto is heard on the right channel and Shoko Hikage's koto is on the left channel. The shakuhachi player Philip Gelb is heard in the middle. Extensive notes by the master musician Tetsu Saitoh suggest that the group has started a new experiment with various sound possibilities..." --Leo Records
Available from Leo Records
Isshin Emerging: Music For Japanese Koto ~ Elizabeth Falconer (player and composer)
Contemporary: Higure, Gaku: Mukyudo, Gaku: Hensokyoku, Gaku: Rondo, Nishikigi Ni Yosete Itsutsu No Shohin: Rangyoku, Nishikigi Ni Yosete Itsutsu No Shohin: Moegi, Akanegumo, Ruri, Kohaku, Little Overture, Lullaby for My Doll, Letter from a Stranger's Childhood, Ai No Uta, Jipushi No Uta, Chiisana Haru: Mizu, Chiisana Haru: Yume, Chiisana Haru: Hana
Japan: Ensemble of Traditional Music of Japan ~ Various Artists
Classical: From "The Road to Izumo:" Le Soleil Se Couche Sur le Temple de Kyoto, La Fête, Les Rayons du Soleil Sur le Lac; L' oiseau Pluvier (Chidori); Themes de Rokoudan; Image Pour Instruments Japonais; from "Capriccio Pour Trois Kotos:" Koto I, Koto II, Koto III
Japan Dreaming ~ Itotake (Lauren Stephenson & Kazuko Ingram: koto, Carl Rathus & Shigeru Yomei Nakajima: shakuhachi)
Classical and contemporary: Matsurika, Chi Chi Buji, Hana Ikada, Kamon, Kojo No Tsuki, Mizu Umi No Uta, Rokudan, Tsuchi Ningyo, Yuyake Koyake, Yamato Choshi
The Japanese Album ~ A mix of Western and Asian perfomers and instruments, including Jean-Pierre Rampal, Yo-Yo Ma, Isaac Stern, Patricia Zander, Yasuko Nakashima, Shinichi Yuize, Utae Uno, Shakuhachi Ens Nipponia, Pro Musica Nipponia and more!
Classical mostly: Sakura Sakura, Chin-Chin-Chidori, Yamanakabushi, Toryanse, Chidori No Kyoku, Defune, Shimabara No Komoriuta, Imayoh, Imay, Chugoko-Chino-No-Komoriuta, Jogashima No Ame, Haru No Umi
Japanese Koto Consort ~ Various Artists.
Classical: "These are recordings of Sankyoku, ensemble pieces for koto, shamisen and shakuhachi, as well as solo pieces of classical, folk and children's songs, featuring master musicians of the Ikuta School."
Available from: World Music Store
Japanese Koto Orchestra
Classical: "The Koto ensemble of the Ikuta School features five kotos, hoteki or flute, shamisen, a 3-stringed plucked instrument, and shakuhachi, a large bamboo flute."
Japanese Music Series
Videos: Early Music Television from the University of Oklahoma. Gagaku: Court Music of Japan, Music of Bunraku, Shinto Festival Music, Nagauta: Heart of Kabuki, Music of Noh Drama
Japanese Tradition: Sankyoku ~ Various Artists
Japon: Sankyoku ~ Yonin no Kai Ensemble
Classical: Hachidan, Koku, Shin Kinuta, Zangetsu, Iwashimizu
Kamunagi ~ Teiko Kikuchi, Shigemitsu Eiso, Kifu Mitsuhashi
Koto ~ Shoko Hikage
Contemporary: Improvisations and original compositions.
Koto ~ Brett Larner (koto) & Seth Misterka (sax)
Contemporary
Koto Japanese Songs Collection ~ Tadao Sawai, Sawai Koto Ensemble
Koto Music: Tadao Sawai plays Michio Miyagi ~ Tadao Sawai
Contemporary: Tegoto Part 1; Kumiutahu, Tegoto Part 2; Rinzetsu, Tegoto Part 3; Mizu no Hentai; Seoto; Onoe no Matsu
Koto Music of Japan ~ Zumi-Kai Original Instumental Group
Classical: Rokudan, Midare, Godan Kinuta, Chidori, Haru No Kyoku
Koto Music of Japan ~ Various Artists (2 discs)
Classical: Disc 1 - Rokudan, Midare, Godan Kinuta, Chidori, Haru No Kyoku; Disc 2 - 21 songs (must be short samples)
Koto Music: Kyoto Breeze Longing ~ Chieko Iwazaki
Sakura Sakura, Dream Painting, Song in C, Bird Song, Wind Song
Koto Sebastian Bach 2000 ~ Meiko Miyazaki
Live at Hall Egg Farm ~ Kazue Sawai, Michel Doneda, Tetsu Saitoh.
Contemporary: Avant garde jazz improvization with koto, sax, and bass.
Also available from Sparkling Beatnik Records
Lullaby For The Moon: Japanese Music For Koto And Shakuhachi ~ Various Artists
Classical: Komoriuta, Toge-Hachi-Ri, Kuon No Hikari, Umi, Muttsu, Sakura, Kojo, Chidori
Matsumura: Poem I/Poem II/Poem for Shinobue and Biwa/Fantasy/Air of Prayer ~ Kifu Mitsuhashi, Nanae Yoshimura, et al.
Contemporary: Poem I, Poem II, Poem, Fantasy, Air of Prayer
Medeta ~ Kokin-Gumi
Contemporary, Classical, and Traditional Folk Music: Medeta, Zenzenoko; Santera Mairi; Matsuzaka Odori; Mosetsu, Enyara, Kagasaki, Kodaijin; Yuki; Hida Yansa; Hana Goyomi; Iwai Medeta; Tsugaru Yosare Bushi; Hiroshima Kiyari, Banzai Kuzushi
Min-On Contemporary Music Festival '80 ~ Teruyuki Noda, Kurodo Mori, Yoshio Hachimura (composers), Tokyo Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra
Contemporary Western orchestra with Japanese instruments: Mutation, for shakuhatchi, koto, 17-string koto & orchestra, Op 18; Groom Is Gloomy, for orchestra; Logic of Distraction, for piano & orchestra
Music For Koto ~ Reiko Kimura, Tadashi Tajima (shakuhachi)
Classical & Contemporary: Midare, Shikyoku Ichiban, Rhapsody for 29-string Koto, Higashi Hara, Ame No Uta
Music For Koto and Flute ~ Kazue Frances Asawa, Kazue Kudo, compositions by Tadao Sawai, Hozan Yamamoto, et al.
Contemporary: Hana, Chikotsu, Sonata (Kozaburo Hirai), Izumi, Haru No Umi
The Music of Teizo Matsumura Vol 2 ~ Kazue Sawai, Tadao Sawai, Kifu Mitsuhashi, Nanae Yoshimura, Michiko Akao, Yukio Tanaka
Oriental Sunrise, Japanese Flute and Koto (Cassette) ~ Riley Lee (shakuhachi)
Oyasumi ~ Elizabeth Falconer
Classical & Contemporary: Quiet lullabies and other "restful melodies." Oborozuki yo, Furusato, Sakura Sakura, Momiji, Takeda no Komoriuta, Aiko's Lullaby, Aka Tonbo, Aogeba Tosohi, Umi, Mimura nu Angwa, Hatsu Yuki, Kirakira Boshi, Hama Chidori, Hagoromo no Komoriuta, Komoriuta, Oyasumi.
Pipa Xing - Works of Akira Ifukube for 25-String Koto ~ Keiko Nosaka
Plum Boy! and Other Tales from Japan ~ Elizabeth Falconer
Folktale story telling and koto playing together.
Portrait of Makoto Shinohara ~ Nishigata, Mitsuhashi, et al
Serenity ~ Reiko Obata, Robert Williams (cassette tape)
Silver Anniversary ~ Washington Toho Koto Society Classical
Soemon
Contemporary: "Provocative, exciting contemporary music performed by Soemon, a Tokyo-based ensemble of 13 kotos." (from Sparkling Beatnik Records)
Sorin ~ Kokin-Gumi
Contemporary: Amitabha, Sorin, Konjiki Shogon, Yayoi, Shumi Heisen, Sawarabi, Oshu Anyo, Torii Emaki
Soul Of The Koto ~ Various Artists [Review in Sing Out!]
Classical: Kudan, Kumoi Rukudan, Midare, Saga No Aki, Daigo No Hanami, Shiki No Shirabe, Sakura, Two Improvizations
Also available from: World Music Store
Soul Of The Koto Volume 2 ~ Various Artists
Classical: Midare, Haru No Umi, Nebiki No Matsu, Rokudan No Shirabe, Chidori No Kyoku, Soran Bushi, Kuroda Bushi, Niwa No Sanshu No Ki, Utsukushiki Ten-Nen, Banshu
Also available from: World Music Store
Step Forward ~ Shoko Hikage and Noriko Tsuboi
Contemporary: Kobu by Shoko Hikage, Laguna by Noriko Tsuboi, Hyakkafu by Tadao Sawai, Koto Futae by Minoru Miki, Luggage (improvisation).
Taka ~ Taka Koto Ensemble (Elizabeth Falconer)
Contemporary: Taka, Spring Rain, Uruma, Haiku, Blossoms, Dream World
Tanka ~ Lantana (Shoko Hikage, Ryuko Mizutani, Noriko Tsuboi)
Contemporary: "...Blending free improvisation with minimal structure, Lantana creates a dynamic soundscape that is suspenseful as well as surprising." (from Sparkling Beatnik Records)
Tegoto: Japanese Koto Music ~ Tomoko Sunazaki
Classical & Contemporary: Haru no Umi (Spring Sea), London No Yoru No Ame, Shinsencho Bukyoku, Koto Tanshishu, Tegoto, Mittsu No Dansho, Kamimu, Midare
Telemetry Transmission ~ Brett Larner
Contemporary: "...drone-based composition for the Japanese koto and thirteen gyroscopes that vibrate the insturment's individual strings."
Also available from Sparkling Beatnik
Three Pieces: Works for Koto ~ Kazue Sawai
Contemporary: Three Dances by John Cage, Malvina by Christian Wolff, and Concerto for Koto and Orchestra by Takashi Kako. Performed by Kazue Sawai on 13-string and 17-string koto.
Wakyo ~ Kokin-Gumi
Classical and Traditional Folk Music: Sakura, Kumoi-jishi, Kojo no Tsuki, Mari no Tonosama, Kobai, Ureshiihin A Matsuri, Tsugaru Jongara Bushi, Itsuki No Komori Uta, Hida Furukawa "ZenZenOko"
Water Colors ~ Elizabeth Falconer
Contemporary: "This collection of pieces by Pacific Northwest composers captures the evocative beauty of the instrument as it celebrates nature, water, and the sound of plucked strings. At once modern and steeped in Japanese tradition..." (from Sparkling Beatnik Records)
The Wind is Calling Me Outside ~ Kazue Sawai plays Yuji Takahashi
Classical: "The master koto virtuoso...performs...works by one of Japan's leading composers, Yuji Takahashi. Ms. Sawai performs both the 17-string and 13-string koto on...While I Was Crossing the Bridge, The Wind Is Calling Me Outside, Horses Heads Were Toward Eternity and others." (from OODiscs)
Yu ~ Hiromi Hashibe (koto) and Masakazu Yoshizawa (shakuhachi)
Traditional and Folk: Gen no Shirabe, Hokkai Minyo Cho, Sawarabi for Koto Solo, Ame, Itsuki no Komoriuta, Haru no Umi
Yugao ~ Yoko Hiraoka (koto) and David Wheeler (shakuhachi)
Classical: Chidori no Kyoku, Kurokami, Tsuru no Sugomori, Yugao, Midare Rinzetsu, Yashima
Zen Garden ~ Kokin-Gumi
Contemporary: Dawn, Flower, Moon, Feng Shui, Daylight, Stone Garden, Snow, Twilight, Birds, Wind, The Milky Way, Dusk

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Koto no Koto is an amazon.com associate, so buying from them brings money to the website. On the left is a predefined search for "koto" at amazon.com. Simply press the "Go" button to search all of their stuff for anything with "koto" in it. Note: Watch for results on a techno-dance artist named Koto and a group called the Soto Koto Band, neither of which plays koto.

Forced Exposure

OOdiscs
"...small,...very independent disc company attempting to produce interesting and provocative 'sound-art' for your home..."

Sparkling Beatnik Records
"Sparkling Beatnik produces the best of world music (especially Japanese) and contemporary experimental music."

World Music Store
"...dedicated to providing the best and widest selection possible of traditional and contemporary world music and dance compact discs, videos, books, and CD-ROMs. The site is designed to meet the needs of music educators and researchers around the world, librarians, music and dance faculty, media centers, as well as world music and dance fans. The site is organized into geographical regions and countries, provides a powerful and easy-to-use search engine, and gives detailed descriptions of the titles."