To those who dont realize it, this woman is bloody masterful on this instrument. How many years it must have taken to gain such skill. Truely a delight to hear.
Out of all contemporary koto types, 17-stringed is by far the most inspiring. Maybe it's the deepness of the sound or the variety of sounds it produces, but I'm absolutely in love with it. I played mostly 13-stringed koto in Japan and brought back one to my country, but now I really regret I didn't choose the bass koto instead.
I was invited to have midnight dinner with her and a student (Masayo Ishigure) at a Waffle House after a performance... and I declined... I regret it to this day
I love how freely she experiments here; you can almost sense her picking up onto an idea at 3:40, discarding it to search around a bit more, having an 'aha' moment and nailing it at around 4:55, see-sawing between delicate and harsh passages all the while. What a dynamic and ferocious animal this bass koto is, she seems to be saying!
Wow!! She is so talented. I'm a musician myself. I wish I could see a view from the top looking down, so I can see the entire instrument. I love to watch the strings move after they are plucked/strummed. Just thought. Thank you so much!
Holy cow! You got Kazue Sawai on video in the front row? ...and only 679 views so far? I'm sharing this vid with everyone I know RIGHT NOW. Thank you for this vid.
Mesmerised by this!. Fantastic.
alansaxon 2 weeks ago
Wiped out...... almost beyond comprehension.....
sitarnut 1 month ago
To those who dont realize it, this woman is bloody masterful on this instrument. How many years it must have taken to gain such skill. Truely a delight to hear.
Davick119 4 months ago 2
@Davick119 That's a great comment, indeed.
soundstreams 4 months ago
holy improvisation
jaejara 4 months ago
@jaejara We couldn't have said it better!
soundstreams 4 months ago
Who in gods name would dislike this?
audiowiz 4 months ago
@audiowiz We totally agree with you!
soundstreams 4 months ago
Spellbound is what I am.
StatutoryTape 6 months ago
I've got a new respect for the Koto
xijack 6 months ago
פיוטי
eran160277 7 months ago
this is simply magnificent music, i love it!!
Ukemodo 8 months ago in playlist japanese music
Great, best wishes from England
dezsanderson 8 months ago
is this just improvisation? or if it is a composed work, may i know the title and the composer of the work?
visionsofthehorizon 8 months ago
@visionsofthehorizon this man has a question
smloveskittycats 8 months ago
Sure, I LOVE you!
MicheleoTuTo 11 months ago
Ikebana... origami... tea ceremonies... it's about time Japan got BRUTAL!!! Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you the Koto!!!!!!!
freakystyley4000 11 months ago
is it improvisation?
Erikk91 1 year ago
So much anger and turbulence in this piece. Beautiful and sad.
mydearamy 1 year ago
I really love this woman. In every single mouvement.
MicheleoTuTo 1 year ago
Out of all contemporary koto types, 17-stringed is by far the most inspiring. Maybe it's the deepness of the sound or the variety of sounds it produces, but I'm absolutely in love with it. I played mostly 13-stringed koto in Japan and brought back one to my country, but now I really regret I didn't choose the bass koto instead.
anabellik 1 year ago
Loved watching this. Thank you!
Anaikimaru 1 year ago
THAT is virtuosity.
tacetviola 1 year ago
This chick is fucking metal.
slyglen 1 year ago
@slyglen i totally agree, im hearing a death metal cover in my head already
monkeybroth 1 year ago
@monkeybroth
YES
slyglen 1 year ago
holy Jeebus...that is musicianship
PhillipThunderGrunge 1 year ago
Had a rare chance to see her playing live at St. Petersburg. That was awesome! Her son Hikaru is a wonderful musician too.
IdealInsomnia 1 year ago
I was invited to have midnight dinner with her and a student (Masayo Ishigure) at a Waffle House after a performance... and I declined... I regret it to this day
silentplummet 1 year ago
She is amazing--the range of sound, rhythm, complexity--obviously a Master!
Princesstipsy2 1 year ago 2
I love how freely she experiments here; you can almost sense her picking up onto an idea at 3:40, discarding it to search around a bit more, having an 'aha' moment and nailing it at around 4:55, see-sawing between delicate and harsh passages all the while. What a dynamic and ferocious animal this bass koto is, she seems to be saying!
shingi085 1 year ago
sometimes I wish she would loop herself, the beat is untameable
audiowiz 1 year ago
Kazue Sawai's skill is unchoppable! Love it!
audiowiz 1 year ago
wow she is wonderful, like a Kami sama of koto...!!! i can't never dream to be good like her...!
liamfeb27 1 year ago
this is great! i wanna know the title of this piece though.:D
visionsofthehorizon 1 year ago
Well done
(And great work by soundstreams!)
JCPosey 2 years ago
phenomenal-and w/o reading any music too
JCPosey 2 years ago
Wow!! She is so talented. I'm a musician myself. I wish I could see a view from the top looking down, so I can see the entire instrument. I love to watch the strings move after they are plucked/strummed. Just thought. Thank you so much!
shohom67 2 years ago
Not very many Japanese people play Koto's or Asian-violin anymore as the the European Piano and European Violin is all the rage in Asia these days.
SPS148669 2 years ago
Holy cow! You got Kazue Sawai on video in the front row? ...and only 679 views so far? I'm sharing this vid with everyone I know RIGHT NOW. Thank you for this vid.
ytcomposer 2 years ago
The very first pluck took my breath away, this is amazing!
MichaelHeroin 2 years ago 2
Without shame, I can honestly say that she can make tears well in my eyes. She inspires me.
cyclonefury27 2 years ago 7
the best I could even imagine...
NOPQ8 2 years ago 3
I love it!!
Xopher88 2 years ago 2
This is absolutely brilliant.
omigoshwayde 2 years ago 3