Kazue Sawai Plays Midare (JAPANESE KOTO)

[Komakiu]

:)

[harmashalom]

I have always loved the pentatonic scale!

[BlakeBatts]

I just got into this Koto This is something I need to dig deeper and find out more about!

[asukanomiko7]

この世界の異端者！それこそ、狂い弾きですね。

[nipponichibanable]

これの音楽わ迚一番です

[MOAKmemoirs]

@nipponichibanable あなたがたは真理を話す

[slimdave2011]

pretty cool sounds lady..mix it in with some other forms of music like punk or metal and it would spectacular.



[CSSFUN1]

MASTERPIECE!

[LeonTHDD]

Beautiful piece of music composed by her husband, and she plays it perfectly. I would learn this instrument if there was anywhere near me that teaches it

[Anaikimaru]

@LeonTHDD Where do you live? I know where most of the teachers are in the US. ^^

[myWTFbomb]

sounds of fumiler!!!!!!!!??????

[myWTFbomb]

!!!!!!!!??????

[redmond1031]

I always think this MASTERPIECE suits its title (midare meaning 'chaos') incredibly. it manages to give even disorder a crazed elegance. thanks for uploading :)

[Yemetha]

I don't know much about Jimi Hendrix, but i can understand why you made such a comparison now. She seems to have gracefull yet precise movements, it seems quite incredible to look at her hands moving.

[neianna]

Gotta love that sound...impressive fingerwork, a master at work truly...

I adore the koto, but will probably never play it.

[frankkalani]

the info said.

The greatest living koto player. The Jimi Hendrix of the Japanese harp.

thats not a direct comparison between the two.

so that would imply that she is to the japanese harp what jimi hendrix is to the guitar. whats with all the commotion?

[eon214]

Thank you for your clarification no commotion at all.

[frankkalani]

damn your pretty kind. youre welcome buddy.

[japonaliya]

The reason I compared Sawai sensei to Jimi Hendrix was first, to get attention of those who are unfamiliar with Japanese traditional music.

Secondly, both Sawai sensei and Jimi Hendrix are/were masters of their respective instruments, and totally changed the way those instruments were played and perceived.

They both changed the history of music.

I can guarantee that if Jimi and Kazue had met they would have recorded together.

[LINKdrkguy]

u wouldnt argue with a stubborn person at the street would u?, then y do it at the comfort of ur place over the internet =/

[CriterionCoIIection]

@japonaliya you can't guarantee anything, douche bag

[jippiandy]

@CriterionCoIIection no, then why do you comment this then??

chill out... douche

[ClarkesonTheMarksman]

She's GOOD

[scarydead]

HEy i play the koto really wall and not having a huge ego about it... lol

if any wants more koto stuff on youtube just ask me cause people stopped posting koto stuff on youtube and ill be glad to post some.

[kurenaisama]

I love how her hands are moving so fast~

[bronhicrew]

Actually she does give lessons smart ass ha ha

[XalmahaX]

waaw that's amazing ..

[Shinaide1992]

We brough back one and mi daughter still sucks at, it but it sure is beautiful. This lady can play wonder if she gives lessions?? Thank yoi for the upload.

[BeyondTheArms]

That's like asking if Elton John gives lessons, lol

[starski1982]

ことのすごいです

[kame9]

i wanna hear smoke on the water koto version O_o

[Th3Black0men]

damn that must take so much practice....

[eon214]

In her case an entire life time devoted to practicing and mastering the musical instrument while becoming completely one with the koto. This virtuoso embodies the very essence of this piece of music with her performance!

[Valholm]

"while becoming completely one"

beautiful words are false. you KILLED it by saying it.

[Iceberqe]

"jimi hendrix of the japanese harp" XD

[priyankeshu]

lol

[yugandali]

I agree 100%. And she doesn't even have an Afro.

[scarydead]

Ye i agree

cause you cant compare totally different instruments and tottally different kinds of music. its just impossible

[Ryokushindo]

You are so right. This is a typical "western" attitude, people need to constantly compare and create dualities. Lazy indeed.

[cacavati]

i think you can still compare the value of humans

[namiobsession01]

gosh i cant get over how good this is. ive listened to it before going to sleep for about three weeks now

[Cotoredondo]

Thank you for posting this great video!

Ever since I first listened to koto music three years ago, I have found that nothing soothes the soul as much as this music. A single note played on this instrument has more depth than most modern songs in their entirety.

I have several CDs-worth of koto music, but this clip is by far superior to anything in my modest collection. I wish I could find more stuff like this.

[tangoOFDOOM1]

Ooh, can you recommend any artists to me?

[Cotoredondo]

To TangoOFDOOM1:

I'm more familiar with the names of certain well known classics (e.g., sakura, edo lullaby, etc.) than I am with the artists. The few I know are: Sawai Tadao, Keiko Nosaka of the Ensemble Nipponia, Haruyoshi Kubo, Shunju Karya, Katsutoshi Nagasawa (composer), and Elizabeth Falconer. On facebook, they have a group called "Japanese Koto Music" where you could find out a lot more than the limited selection I know. I hope this helped. :)

[chuckadave]

Awesome 8)*****

[priore88]

great music and video! 5 stars

[Sakrra03]

I know there's a guitar shred, but I didn't know there was a koto shred! she's like some Yngwie Malmsteen of Koto~!! *hands down*

[nivsha]

Thats a trillion years of mastery. Each artist brings a unique essence to the instruments (tools) they create with. I'm a firm believer though still of "intuitive improvisation", the deepest understanding of a musical sound from most profound imaginations. Its okay to lose a great moment because many are yet to greet you... This is brilliant.

[gaiden88]

you sound like one of those people I could listen to the voice of..all day. nah I aint gay, just intrigued

[lpmar176]

Wow so nice of you to get in touch with your inner iemotions.....................­..........

just kidding dude. Good thing she made a good impression on you.

[oiiisis]

Thankyou so much for this gorgeous video. I am in love with Koto.

[sullivanmc]

スゲー！

[seniorwisdom]

I think she's BADASS AH she is good as hell

Her technique is very strong and steady and even clear!!! Go SAWAI

[MichaelHeroin]

I don't think calling her a badass is insulting, she IS a badass to be honest. Maybe you don't like the imposition of such a westernized form of approval as this, but it's not an insult by a long shot.

[loge10]

Actually, I appologize for the condescension and sarcasm of my earlier post. If Mr. johnmclatchy would investigate Ms. Sawai, he would hopefully realize that his comments really were an insult to a first-rate, classy lady who doesn't deserve to be so degraded--and we don't deserve to have to read it.

[windshadowmoth]

The problem with bohemians like yourself, is that your shallow, irresponsible, irrelevent interperetations of art are always the tools that you use to control the fiscal value of the medium, to your own profitable ends. Now shut up and enjoy the bad ass!

[henrebotha]

"Badass" is scarcely an insult. On the contrary, this is the same term I regularly apply to such awesome people as Christopher Walken and the entire cast of Dark Knight.

[loge10]

Yea, sure would be funny, Mr. johncclatchy. Thank you for such clueless insights in Japanese culture.

[johnmcclatchy]

It would be funny if after playing, she looks to the camera and says "gimmie a dollar, hoe!" I mean, as humble as she looks, surely she knows she's badass

[namiobsession01]

I LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!! can you please upload more?

and if not plz put up a link to where i can buy a cd or something

[SailorBarsoom]

Lovely. Tuned to different scales, huh?  That could be... interesting.

[japonaliya]

I have been playing the koto for 5 years..the guitar for 20. Hirojoshi tuning is pentatonic, but the koto can be tuned to an infinite number of "scales" "Plunking" on a koto quite easily, but you can play a simple piece on ANY instrument. Mastering the koto is as hard as any western instrument. Pieces like Rokudan or Midare are used as a standards to get your instructional cert. All students learn these in the course of their studies, but a trained ear can hear the master vs. the novice.

[hori166]

I saw Kazue sensei play this at a concert in January in Tokyo. The video is actually coming in at the tail end of the 3rd "dan" or movement. The piece exists as a duet called "kumoi" or the Cloud Well. She recorded it with her late husband who was the head of the Sawai school. The last movements are said to describe snow falling incessantly in the forest. Kazue is a dynamic player though you wouldn't know it from this traditional piece. The Sawais revitalized koto with their original works.

[hehw]

superb performance!! pls post more of her performances :D

[midnightprincefallen]

i AM HALF JAPANESE MY SELF LISTENING TO HER MAKES ME FEEL LIKE IM BACK IN JAPAN, I MISS IT BUT IM ALSO HALF NATIVE AS WELL, IM TRYING TO FIND A PLACE HERE IN VANCOUVER CANADA WHERE I CAN BUY A KOTO, ANY THOUGHTS OR IDEAS, WOULD BE MOST WELCOME, THANK YOU.

[jonabig]

ebay or prolly craigs list would have it

[squarefishtasteweird]

your best bet is E-bay. I'm Scottish and wish to buy one also.

[4youglencoco]

this is beautiful...

[cyclonefury27]

I'm amazed by her skill and the beauty of the piece.

[clodoaldoljr]

Id love to know the actual variations in pitch of some notes (the kind of interval) and how it is called

[244466666]

they say that several Asian instruments use quarter tones

[UnsightlyRogue]

voll schwul

[blackvampirate]

genau. und e-gitarren sind lesbisch.

[BonzoHunter]

i freaking love it, amazing music

[mrbonholio]

this reminds of kung-fu hustle with the two blind guys

[TKGMALICE]

no ... no it doesnt....try guzheng for that

[mrbonholio]

i may not remind you of it, but it reminds me of it, no such thing as a wrong opinion

[TKGMALICE]

yes i suppose...

[Naxotic]

This is so relaxing ^____^

[WatanabeSakura]

Her skill and ardor is unparalleled.... Thank you for sharing this beauty. -^ __ ^-

[S7twinturbo]

wow , beautiful insrument , I think its the only instrument that relaxes me

Where in the US can you get one ?

[ryankffx]

tbh they are abit aqward to find in non oriental places, you could try one of the various china towns in the us.

but your best bet is to order one online

[XxIntegralEinxX]

yeah, the only way to get one is in catalouges or online. You need a teacher though....Can't really learn it on your own :/ its REALLY not that simple ^^;;*is a koto student*

[henrebotha]

heh. what makes it so difficult to learn? it doesn't look like the technique is too far removed from guitar...

[XxIntegralEinxX]

Looks can be deceiving. :/ Don't assume things before you try them.

[henrebotha]

haha, no, i am very well aware of this. but still, what makes it so hard?

[dulcimoo]

Well for one thing it only has 5 notes per octave, you change pitch by pulling or pressing the strings. The bridges are movable. And it's big. The Strings are hard to press. The finger picks are a pain. And like the piano, easy to play hard to master.

[senarodrigo]

Well, if it has 5 notes it means it uses the pentatonic scale. If you are using that scale there is no combination of notes that would sound dissonant. Wouldn't that make it easier?

[dulcimoo]

OK. Like at this video. Even in the video you can see her press down on the strings. Why? Sometime for "vibrato" but sometimes to get the Inbetween notes. But you don't press all the way down to the wood most of the time ... so you could come up with anything. Some songs you move the bridges in the middle of this song even. Listen closely you hear dissonance. Some of the tunings have notes like D and Eb - thats pretty dissonance to me!

[pesavage]

There's more than one kind of pentatonic scale. This uses a pentatonic scale that has two semitones, giving it lots of possibilities for dissonance. Also, although the standard tuning is pentatonic, the movable bridges means you can actually tune it however you like: pentatonic, Western scales, or you could make up your own freakish tuning if you wanted

[BloodTal0n]

If I could get my hands on a koto, I would tune it like no other and then call it the Spartan Scale. :p ^^

[lpmar176]

Hi,

Before attempting to get a Koto, decide whether you want o buy it for decoration, practice or public performance. All of this should be taken in consideration before investing any money. I got mine about 20 yrs. ago from Tzurukawa Enterprises in Seattle, WA, however I understand that Tzurukawa went out of business many years ago. I checked w/ my Sensei and she said you might be able to get one in San Francisco. I suggest you check w/ the Japanese embassy branch there and ask for leads.

[japonaliya]

If you want a good used koto in SF...SHARAKU on Post St. has them, also shamisen, and supplies. On eBay, there is a Bay area seller that has them. Koto can start at under $1,000 for a student model, up to $50,000. or more. However, after around $3,000. the extra price is for more elaborate decoration, not overall playability.If buying used, make sure the koto is newly strung, as only a professional can do proper re-stringing. Neo-koto having pegs or tuners are best if you can't re-string.

[lpmar176]

Great, thank you for the tips. Actually it is great to know that there's a place one can walk up to and examine the Kotos or whatever else one's buying. When I got mine I never had such a chance, it was just ordered for me but luckily it was a very good purchase. Thanks again and thanks for sharing such a great video! If I can think of 2 classical pieces that are at the top of my list, Rokudan is one of the them as well as Midare. Midare is actually out of this world as far as I'm concerned!!!!

[pumpkingoth]

there is actually a really good online store were you can buy new kotos that are very nice for $800-$1000... the reason some of those other ones are so expensive (ive noticed) is that they are vintage or antique sometimes... these ones are new and the only bad part is that you have to add in all the bridges yourself, but i think you have to do that on all them anyways lol

[AlexanderSerban]

oh shit she is good

[holikarang]

very beautiful performance...I fell in love with koto when I listened to Etsuko Takezawa once...

[fategiver]

That's amazing. I can't believe they moved as fast as they did. Wow! :O It was beautiful!

[li4sakura]

sawai kazue is very cute!!! shes very nice!!! n love her playing the koto! could feel the music

[MENCADO]

Transcendental music!

Goes into my 'Evocations of the Spiritual' playlist.

[Inkogniot]

amazing player! I think I've just fallen in love with this instrument

[darthbullwinkle]

wonderful music... very deep and soulful

[gutara2003]

It that the sound of the koto shakes heartstrings is a delicate sound.

[lalungenuictdestens]

He's better than that horrible junkie Jimi Hendrix!... Koto music is wonderful.

[nkear5]

It's a she.

[lalungenuictdestens]

Wooow! :) thank you for the information.. sorry!

[japonaliya]

Jimi wansn't a junkie. Yes, he did use drugs, but that if anything made his inspirations greater. While it did fuck up his "live" playing sometimes, Jimi evolved the guitat the way Yatsuhashi did the koto. I play bothe, and you my friend need to take a music appreciation class.

[lalungenuictdestens]

I don't need appreciation classes; I'm a professional tenor, countertenor, guitar, recorder, violin player and composer; I really don't need appreciation classes. And no... An inspired composer with the knowledge of the composition technique doesn't need of drugs to make his "inspirations greater" thank you.

[Jon47]

it was the 60s man, even Tom Brokaw smoked some grass. With all your knowledge you'd think a little tolerance would have come with it.

[androsynth]

WTF?

[androsynth]

"An inspired composer with the knowledge of the composition technique doesn't need of drugs to make his "inspirations greater"

Composers dont "need" to take drugs to make their "inspirations greater"....your right. They just take drugs because they want to and its fun to be fucked up. Your just a square. I suppose you consider Debussy and Satie junkies too, not worthy of listening to?

[NightShipT]

I'd give anything to be able to play koto...even half as well as she does!

[nivsha]

Kazue is an artist, althought classically trained on koto, this artist is one of few who performs truly with her own unique take on the original compositions. Do not mistake her as a koto "performer". She is a trail blazer and a force to reckon with!

[Rose1978Oct]

I am a begginner of Koto. The way she played really inspired me. Thank you so much for such a great music!

[Guardian016]

乱れ

[japonaliya]

なぜか。

[Guardian016]

Midare is 乱れ in Japanese.

I just posted it.

Don't care...

[Henspert]

My partner thinks it annoying. European music is more his style. The plucking and thwarting is too harsh for his blended ear. I think the plucking is reflective of the society from which it came. Though, this is a wondrous melodic display the laborious formality of custom is ever present.

[Henspert]

It makes me think of the on going need to be kept in social form, bound to its requisite all the while waiting for one of the many seasonal festivals to let go or relax. There is a pleasure sewn or interwoven along with its chore. The pleasure is the melody along with each note plucked harshly but waning ever so lush to its soft and quiet end.

[RinEdition]

Incredible- and she did it all in traditional clothing too. The sound is beautiful.

[XxIntegralEinxX]

Beautiful. Absolutoly beautiful.

[BubbaFart]

This woman is amazing....

[ankh2007]

wow. that was amazing! wish i could play the koto.

[macgyver2210]

awesomeness

[SakuraIgarashi]

Does anyone know where I could get an mp3 of this wonderful playing? I have found many of 'Midare' but none quite compare to her version. Please let me know!

[u1008394]

try the duet by Zumi Kai. Its my favorite version

[SakuraIgarashi]

Yes, I heard that version, but it's much slower and different. I was trying to find something that sounded like this version.

[starfly7]

actually the geatest living koto player is june kuramoto of the jazz group hiroshima

[japonaliya]

I know June, and I have played with her and her son at the SF Cherry Blossom fest. She is very good, but she would be the first to say the Sawai sensei is the master. Since just about every top kotoist today has studied with Kazue, they owe her a debt like every rock guitarist does Jimi Hendrix.

[mb96768]

The section from about 2:50 is said to describe snow falling incessantly in a pine forest. Thanks to my iPod I actually was able to experience this last winter at Manza onsen in and it was an unbelievable sensation.

[GotForGimmick]

Disturbingly hypnotic and relaxing. Wonderful.

[Ahmadfin]

The Japanese music School in Indonesia is for Taiko Only!

[sanchezdot]

"Music is the divine way to tell beautiful, poetic things to the heart."

-Pablo Casals

[sanchezdot]

+★★ ;)

[sanchezdot]

★★★★★

[Buddaman6289]

I WANT THAT FOR A BAND! I've had tat idea for a while like that with an acoustic guitar and electric and bass guitar with drums thrown in there too and a piano... you think that would be sweet

[IChinaManI]

CHeck out Kagrra dude

[fuckthisbulshit]

fantastic! The koto is one of the most beautiful instruments, and this is one of the most haunting performances that I've ever heard! Koto is a type of zither, not harp. A harp has a body, a neck, and often a forepillar...

[dulcimoo]

A zither is an intriment where the strings are substantaly over the sound box. That is it has no neck. The most typical "American" context is the autoharp or chromaharp, both of which are zithers. The dulcimer (both kinds) are also zithers. Zithers have no necks (vs guitar)

[servicecoupon]

I can't see her "nails" (pick), is she from Ikuta-ryu or Yamada-ryu?

I am learning to play this piece right now, it's really fast and difficult!

[japonaliya]

If you are learning it you should know she is from the Ikuta school. The Sawai school is a subgroup of this. However, Yatsuhatchi's pieces like Midare and Rokudan are played by BOTH schools!! I can't believe your sensei didn't tell you, and if you are trying to learn this piece by yourself, it's vertually impossible to do it right.

A

[japonaliya]

The koto was introduced to Japan in the 7th to 8th century from China...in my math, that is over 1,000 years!!!

[JinsukeHP]

Whether they had formed a "country", they were forming a culture and as a group of people since before the birth of Christ, if I remember correctly. If I don't, it's at the very least before 400ad.

[YTM021807]

Wonderful, brilliant, beautiful, refined.

[MazerSien]

daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa­aaaaaaaamn!!!!

[david13601]

japanese harp my butt! that was copied from the korea harp! besides the history lesson >< thats was pretty good

[raretrick]

perhaps our history teacher could read the manual before he gives the lesson. let's find out from where the japanese (and korean) harp really originated

[asiancowboy69]

origin of the koto is from china,however, this music is distinctly japanese and is played with exceptional quality and precision.

[japonaliya]

No...the Japanese koto was brought over from China over 1,000 years ago, before Korea was a twinkle in gods eye....

[poiu900]

Japan didn't even form a country until 600 A.D. What are you talking about? In fact, Japan was the last country formed in East asian after China and Korea.

[lpmar176]

Japan did get the Koto through cultural envoys sent from China, I believe around the 6th century and later, I believe prince Shotoku was somehow involved in one of them. At some point or another though, Kotos did come to Japan from Korea. If I am not mistaken there is a Kudaragoto or Kayagum at some Japanese temple which was received as a gift from a Korean envoy. The Japanese may have not incorporated the Korean version but there is evidence that some Koto influence did come from Korea.

[asiancowboy69]

damn she plays that so well!

[nivsha]

Please advise how I may purchace DVDs (if they exsist) for Tadao and for Kazue Sawai??? I am so inspired I have to watch their performances EVERY DAY.. Please private message me.

[mongolianluv]

very excellent...the best Koto video on youtube yet. thankyou.

[calhomeant]

nice

[w3zz1d3]

this greatly beautiful,fuck takin ova this country i wanna take ova japan

[nihongogo]

does anyone when she might be playing in Japan (Tokyo)next?

[tiffenakou]

thanks for sharing this. Attended her performance last month in Seattle. Wow....when she played the koto it looked as if she was dancing on it. How rhythmic, and how beautiful.

[dulcimoo]

Yes. Finger Dancing. That's the term for it from fretted dulcimer. It could easily apply here.

[numofan]

Thanks so much for poting this! I've yet to see her live... Marvelous interpretation of the piece,too.

[JohnFalconer]

Come see this phenomenal performer on tour from Japan in San Francisco (Tuesday, September 26, 2006 at 7:00 PM at Old First Church (www.oldfirstconcerts.org)) or Seattle (Friday, September 29, 2006 at 8:00 PM, Poncho Theatre, Cornish College of the Arts).

[japonaliya]

Wow, I didn't know she was going to be in SF !! I will be there...

[japonaliya]

I sure like to know who posted the neg. ratings...why don't you post a comment and explain yourself. If this isn't a supurb performace, then post one that is better!

[japonaliya]

Yes, I was fortunate to see her live a few times. Once in Kyoto, the last time, Mills College, Oakland, CA. Her "modern" playing is even more incredible. Her son Hikaru often plays rock shamisen with her.

[jetglo330]

That was amazing... Thank you very much for posting it :)