New York’s music scene reflects the diverse and vibrant culture of the city. Yoko Reikano Kimura began “Four Seasons in New York – Gems of Japanese Music –” series in the fall of 2015. As a Japanese instrumentalist, Kimura hopes to introduce the brilliance of traditional Japanese music, which is still being passed on to future generations after many centuries. Since the first concert, over 65 works from the classical repertoire have been introduced in the concert series. Please come and experience the sounds of Japanese Music. After the concert, matcha will be served by Souheki Mori, tea master and the owner of Setsugekka, which is the destination of matcha connoisseurs in New York.
This concert series is co-presented by Yoko Reikano Kimura and Setsugekka. Supported by Hogaku Journal.
Hototogisu – Little Cuckoo – (by Yamada-kengyo)
Choryu – Tide – (by Seiju Suzuki)
*Thankfully the tickets are almost sold-out. Please make reservation in advance.
From the description of Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art’s website:
Live musical accompaniment by Duo YUMENO. Introduction by Eric Faden, supervisor of The Japanese Paper Film Project.
Glimpse some of the few surviving examples of film made on paper instead of celluloid (kami firumu), a rare form of filmmaking from 1930s Japan. Companies in this field produced both animated and live-action films, often in color. Many of the films contained synchronized soundtracks on 78 rpm vinyl.
So few film prints of this type survive because of the short period of production, the varying paper quality, and the devastation of WWII. Now, almost ninety years later, the handful of surviving prints are beginning to deteriorate. The Japanese Paper Film Project is racing against time to preserve the films before they disappear entirely.
About Duo YUMENO
New York–based koto/shamisen player and singer Yoko Reikano Kimura and cellist Hikaru Tamaki create a singular fusion sound, inspired by tradition but with a contemporary sensibility. Duo Yumeno’s repertoire includes a dynamic range of compositions—both traditional and contemporary—all of which explore the dialogue between classical Japanese and Western music.
(Photography by Valerio Greco)
Japanese Paper Film Project will be featured at FILM FEST – Live Score Music Festival in Setubal, Portugal. Duo YUMENO will accompany for this special screening. The details will be announced soon.
New York based ensemble, INTERWOVEN will give annual recital. The program will include Jay Reise – Orpheus in Meikai for Koto and String Quartet and more.
INTERWOVEN will visit the University of Hawaii for a mini residency. It will work with composition students and faculty members. The ensemble’s works will be premiered at the end of the week recital.
Yoko Reikano Kimura will be joining as a guest koto/shamisen performer at Chicago’s most active Japanese taiko group, Tsukasa Taiko’s annual events. The details will be announced soon.
Parthenia and Duo YUMENO combine their artistry to blend east with west, old with new, in works for koto and cello, viol consort, and five viols and koto, featuring dances by John Dowland and a world premier by Japanese composer Yoko Sato.
Parthenia is one of the most leading consort music ensembles in New York city and it is hailed by the New Yorker as “one of the brightest lights in New York’s early-music scene.” Duo YUMENO is Yoko Reikano Kimura, koto and voice, and Hikaru Tamaki, cello and viol.