3. The handling music ～now on sale～
Please click the title to see the information about the music.
Flower of Tinsagu "Balsam" (KOTOLEKKO)
◎Title : Flower of Tinsagu
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
This is one of the moral songs to represent Okinawa.
The teachings of this song are as follows.
You should respect your parents and the superiors, help each other, be humbly and honestly.
“Tinsagu” means Balsam.
Children in Okinawa were using this flower to dye their nails.
It was thought to work as a talisman to avoid the evil.
The first text says,
“The flowers of Balsam dye your nails. And the teaching of your parents dyes your heart.”
Greensleeves (KOTOLEKKO)
◎Title : Greensleeves
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
This song is a one of the British folk song.
You know it is a very beautiful song, don't you?
Edelweiss (KOTOLEKKO)
◎Title : Edelweiss
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
This song is very famous as one of the songs of “The Sound of Music”.
This flower inhabited only in the alpine high mountain area is a symbol of Austria.
In the musical, it is sung with thought to the homeland in full.
Silent Night (KOTOLEKKO)
◎Title : Silent Night
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
It is Christmas season.
Please enjoy this Chiristmas with Koto sound.
Grandfather's Clock (KOTOLEKKO)
◎Title : Grandfather's Clock
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
You know this song, don't you?
It was composed by Henry Clay Work in 1876.
Please enjoy this nostalgic song by soft sound.
SAKURA SAKURA (KOTOLEKKO)
◎Title : Sakura sakura
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
The music is one of the traditional Japanese songs, “SAKURA SAKURA”
Let’s try and enjoy it!
Momiji (KOTOLEKKO)
◎Title : Momiji
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
"Momiji" is a song of colored leaves.
Please enjoy the autumn taste.
Tanabatasama （KOTOLEKKO）
◎Title : Tanabatasama
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
“Tanabatasama” is a song for Star Festival (7th July) in Japan.
Let’s play the Japanese song with Japanese sound.
Happy birthday to you （KOTOLEKKO）
◎Title : Happy birthday to you
The most famous birthday song all of the world.
It is the KOTOLEKKO series.
Why don’t you try to play “Happy birthday to you” by the Koto on your friends or family’s birthday?
Iroha no A Tsubame
“Iroha no A” means A of ABC.
“Tsubame” means Swallow, migratory birds that come from the southern islands to Japan in early summer.
◎Title : Iroha no A Tsubame (Swallow)
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
This is the first piece of the series “Enjoy Playing”.
It is a duet that composed in the image of flying swallows.
It was made as an etude for a teacher and a student.
You can enjoy it comfortably for the ensemble.
◎Composer : Yoshizaki Katsuhiko
◎Composed year : January, 2009
◎One point Advice :
During the Part1 is playing a main melody, Part2 is playing the accompaniment like swallows flying.
Let’s feel the upbeat and try to keep your rhythm and melody.
Kaze to hanabira
The title means “The wind and the petal”
◎Title : Kaze to hanabira
◎Level :
Wind beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Petal beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
The wind “The spring has come!” The petal “Really?”
The wind “Yes!” The petal “It’s cold, yet.” …..
Let’s express the conversation of the wind and the petal with fun.
◎Composer : Sato Yoshihisa
◎Composed year : 1st Nov.1999
◎One point Advice :
This piece is a duet for two Kotos.
Both parts called as “the wind” and “the petal” were composed for beginners to be able to play easily.
So you may enjoy an ensemble even if both of you and your partner are beginners.
Let’s listen to another part well.
You should play like a conversation with your partner.
Sandan no shirabe
The title means “The music consists of three movements”
◎Title : Sandan no Shirabe
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer : Hisamoto Genchi
◎Composed year : Spling, 1943
◎One point Advice :
This piece consists of three movements.
The second one may be a little bit difficult for beginners.
Especially, you have to play the first sound of it carefully.
Let’s listen to the KOTOLE well, and practice playing it with correct pitch to prevent a dissonance.
Taka
The title means “A hawk”
◎Title : Taka
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
This song was named "Hawk" because its melody had the impression of flying dignifiedly.
The middle art which occupies most of the song is very romantic.
It makes us imagine the hawk flying swiftly than its brave form.
◎Composer : Sawai Tadao
◎Composed year : Febrary, 1972
◎One point Advice :
Please never play in a hurry though eight consecutive notes continue as a whole.
Let's sound the majestic sound while imagining the appearance of a hawk spreading wings in the sky.
Tsuchi ningyou
The title means “A pottery doll”
◎Title : Tsuchiningyou
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
There are some traditional pottery dolls in Aichi prefecture in Japan.
They have a simple figure in rich color.
I tried to express these beautiful dolls by the Koto sounds.
In order to express glittery feeling, Part1 and Part2 ware made with the same tuning and the same technique was used in both of them.
◎Composer : Sawai Tadao
◎Composed year : Febrary, 1972
◎One point Advice :
You can practice how to use your fingers while enjoying an ensemble in this piece.
I recommend that you practice with your metronome to play sixteenth notes exactly.
Tsumugi uta
◎Title : Tsucmugi uta
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
This is an ensemble for koto, shakuhachi and piano.
It was composed inspired by piano piece "Tsumugi uta".
◎Composer : Morioka Akira
◎Published year : Febrary, 1975
◎One point Advice :
You can enjoy this song in various combinations.
examples
・Koto_1 and koto_2
・koto_1,2 and shakuhachi
・koto_2 and shakuhachi
・koto_2, shakuhachi and piano
・koto_1,2, shakuhachi and piano
Kotole was recorded as a duet of koto (Part1 and Part2).
We hope that the players of shakuhachi and piano use it for their exercise.
◎Notes
The score currently being sold is staff score.
But I used the tablature (string name score) to make Kotole.
There are slight differences between staff score and tablature.
（4 places)
Please understand it beforehand if you use the score.
Nogiku no Shirabe
The title means "The sound of the wild chrysanthemum".
◎Title : Nogiku no Shirabe
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
This piece was made as a simple trio. But you can also enjoy it as a duet of Koto.
It is technically very easy. You don't need to use the technique called “Oshide”.
I want you to pay attention to the difference of image between the three paragraphs rather than the technical.
◎Composer : Sato Yoshihisa
◎One point Advice :
This piece is very good for the beginners to practice an ensemble.
Please fully enjoy the sound of overlapping each sound.
Natsu no hi
The title means "summer day".
◎Title : Natsu no hi
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Notes :
"Summer day" is one of the musical suite "Days in four seasons".
Each season is expressed by duo of the koto.
◎Composer : Sawai Tadao
◎Composed year : Febrary, 1986
◎One point Advice :
First part is wrote without using the technique called “Oshide”
On the other side, second part player has to play along with using "weak_Oshide" many times.
Please listen carefully to each other and make beautiful chord sounds.
Hanaikada
The title means "Flower petals (especially cherry blossom) flowing like a raft on the surface of the water.
◎Title : Hanaikada
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
This work was composed in the image of Hanaikada which is the typical Japanese spring scene.
I tried to express various angles of the scene the beauty petal movement on the stream.
◎Composer : Sawai Tadao
◎Composed year : January, 1968
◎One point Advice :
We are sure that you may enjoy an ensemble even if you are a beginner.
Sometimes same phrases are repeated alternately in Part1 and Part2.
Let’s listen to another part well, and try to play to be one music with two persons.
Hanashishu
The title means “The collected poems of flowers”
◎Title : Hanashishu
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
I composed this piece for beginners to enjoy an ensemble.
I wrote it without using the technique called “Oshide” as much as possible in order to let them play easily.
◎Composer : Ohtake Kazuhisa
◎Composed year : January 1989
◎One point Advice :
In this piece, you may enjoy an ensemble even if both you and your partner are beginners.
Let’s try to play in a light rhythm at the part of up-tempo phrase, in the middle of the piece.
It is better to express a clear difference between slow-tempo part and up-tempo part for good performance.
Haru no Hikari
The title means “The light of spring”
◎Title : Haru no Hikari
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer : Hisamoto Genchi
◎Composed year : Spring, 1944
◎One point Advice :
Please don't play in a hurry.
I hope you feel relaxed while imagining the light of spring.
In the Part2, playing style of “awase_zume” is often used.
Please play it carefully not to be misaligned sound.
Hiyaku
The title means “A Leap”
◎Title : Hiyaku
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer : Hisamoto Genchi
◎Composed year : July, 1931
◎One point Advice :
In this piece, the first half and the coda are two-four time.
And the middle part is six-eight time.
Let’s try to play feeling the difference of each rhythm.
The refrain part is often omitted at the concert.
At the KOTOLE, it is played exactly according to the score. It is not omitted.
Matsurika
The title means “The flower of festival”
◎Title : Matsurika
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
Part 1 was composed for beginners to let them express a flow and expanse of the sound smoothly with enjoying an ensemble.
The part of 2nd Koto, 17th strings Koto, and Shakuhachi (Vertical bamboo flute) are a little bit more difficult than part 1.
They are the parts for the teacher during the lesson.
As a whole, this piece is full of flowery atmosphere that created by the Koto.
You can also enjoy it as a duet of only for Kotos.
◎Composer : Yoshizaki Katsuhiko
◎Composed year : 1984
◎One point Advice :
At the KOTOLE, we introduced this piece as a duet of the Koto.
But original music was composed as an ensemble with 17th strings Koto and Shakuhachi.
Please enjoy making one music with other people.
Yube no Rondo
The title means “The evening Rondo”
◎Title : Yube no Rondo
◎Level :
Part1 beginner ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
Part2 beginner ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ intermediate
◎Composer Notes :
Rondo is a musical form with a recurring leading theme.
Like this song, different episodes as B, C, D are inserted while the leading theme is repeated as A, A', A'', A'''.
Rondo form also has a little bit different types.
◎Composer : Morioka Akira
◎Composed year : May, 1967
◎One point Advice :
This song is good to practice basic form of the hand.
I hope you will enjoy your practice.