You can order our album ‘Kin’ on Bandcamp now, digitally or physically. Alternatively you can skip the shipping fees and pick up a CD at select Oregon Koto-Kai live performances or in person at Enthea Teahouse and Portland Japanese Garden.
*Shipping of CDs is limited to US only
Oregon Koto-Kai is proud to present our debut album, Kin, featuring some of our favorite pieces for Japanese koto ensemble. Established in 2012 by our artistic director Mitsuki Dazai, we are entering our 13th year at the time of this album’s release. As such, the title Kin refers to the name of the 13th and highest string on a standard koto and symbolizes our progress over the years.
The calligraphy featured on the cover, by our own Nobuko Chalfen, is a fusion of the kanji for Kin and enso ('circle'). This symbol in Japanese Zen is the revelation of a world of the spirit without beginning and end.
Oregon Koto-Kai looks forward to many more years of sharing koto music and Japanese culture with our community while striving to reach new artistic heights.
Tracklist
Sakura Sakura for Three Kotos - Arranged by Kaoru Wada, 2017
Koto 1 - Amy Shoemaker
Koto 2 - Miyuki Sakiyama
Koto 3 - Josh Faber-Hammond
2. Tsuchi Ningyo つち人形 (Clay Dolls) - Composed by Tadao Sawai, 1972
Koto 1 - Rena Takahashi
Koto 2 - Josh Faber-Hammond
3. OKOTO - Composed by Hikaru Sawai, 1999
Koto 1 - Miyuki Sakiyama
Koto 2 - Amy Shoemaker
4. Hana Ikada 花筏 (Flower Raft) - Composed by Tadao Sawai, 1968
Koto 1 - Nobuko Chalfen
Koto 2 - Miwa Satoh
5. Midnight Rain - Composed by Elizabeth Falconer, 1989
Koto 1 - Miyuki Sakiyama
Koto 2 - Amy Shoemaker
6. Koto 古都 (Old Capital) - Composed by Shin Miyashita, 1977
Koto 1 - Nobuko Chalfen, Rena Takahashi
Koto 2 - Amy Shoemaker, Mitsuki Dazai
7. Ginyuka 吟遊歌 (Song of the Troubadours) - Composed by Hikaru Sawai, 1998
Koto 1 - Rena Takahashi
Koto 2 - Josh Faber-Hammond
Bass Koto - Amy Shoemaker
Album Credits
All songs © Muserk Rights Management
Except Midnight Rain © Elizabeth Diane Falconer
Recorded at Black Diamond Studios in Portland, OR
Mixed and Mastered by Andrew Shartle
Album Art by Kayo Kondo-Cox
Kin Calligraphy by Nobuko Chalfen
Produced by Mitsuki Dazai & Josh Faber-Hammond
2024