Michio Miyagi was a composer/musician who has been hailed as the “Beethoven of the Koto”.  Blind from the age of 8, Miyagisan was both deeply rooted in the music and forms from the 19th Century Japan but developed the instrument and compositional styling to bring them into the 20th Century.

In this recording we hear the Yamato Ensemble featuring the sound of koto, shamisen, jushichigen, shakuhachi, shakuroku and voice as they perform the music of Miyagi in a very respectful and vibrant rendering.  Breathing life into these compositions sustains Miyagisan’s music into the 21st century and the disc is a good introduction to learning about Japanese composers by focusing less on simply the instruments and on the work of one of Japan’s most respected artist/composers.

Recorded in Japan, the ensemble features seven compositions by Miyagisan which in short order demonstrate the range and sensitivity of the composer.  The selections include:
Haru No Umi (The Sea in Springtime), perhaps Miyagisan’s best known piece,
Beni Sobi (Rosebud Lips), a serenade to a young woman,
Maru No Yo (Spring Evening), which churns up the image of plum blossoms and spring storms,
Seoto (The Roar of the Shallows), a piece reflecting the flow of the Tone river,
Kumo No Anata-ni (The Clouds over Yonder), a simple melody illustrating the shore of the Inland Sea,
Sarashi-fu Tegoto (The Pattering of the Cloth-bleachers), Miyagisan’s composition based on an earlier piece by Fukakusa Kengyo from the 17th Century, and
Koma No Haru (Springtime in Korea), a piece which bridges Miyagisan’s Japanese roots with his journeys to Korea and illustrates the opening of Spring time based on poetry by Ishibashi a contemporary of Miyagi.

The performances are dynamic when called for, somber when appropriate, and always filled with moods reflective of a human being who was rich in his spirit.  The quality of the recording is excellent and the liner notes feature biographical information on the composer and each piece.  ARC Music makes a nice addition to their fine recordings of Japanese music with this selection.