Hello, brilliant composers.
I play a Japanese zither instrument called the koto. My koto teacher and I have performed duos together at a few events that highlight Japanese culture and arts. Here is a link to our latest performance:
My AMAZING koto teacher, Saeko Kujiraoka, has performed numerous solo performances and has collaborated with artists in various genres (i.e., classical, jazz, pop, etc.).
For more info and samples of koto music, here is a link to Saeko’s website: https://www.saekokoto.com/
If you're interested in adding koto sounds/music to any of your pieces, please let me know. Or feel free to contact Saeko’s website directly.
These instruments from Japan have very interesting and unique sounds. I once created a piece performed live on a Gu Zheng. I am not sure if it a similar instrument or the same under a different name. But that instrument is limited to 5 notes. Here is the live performance: https://youtu.be/vK5nNpNLo_Y
(that's me on piano :) )
This was so enjoyable - thank you so much for sharing! What kinds of films do you feel this instrument would be good for?
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Hi, Joel Irwin - You're correct. The Japanese koto was derived from the Chinese Guzheng. Thank you for sharing the performance! Except for her solo, unfortunately, I couldn't hear the Guzheng very well. :-( Otherwise, great piece!!
Hi and thank YOU, Karen "Kay" Ross! Also, thank you for asking what films this instrument would be good for. I thought about this as well. I think the koto can be versatile and, with accompanying instruments/sounds, could be used for any genre. Without accompanying instruments (just the koto music and sounds alone), depending on which direction a director would like to go, I can hear it used for action/adventure (fighting and chasing scenes) and serene moments. I can maybe even hear it for suspenseful moments or horror.
Yup - that's common when an acoustic instrumentalist plays in a jazz ensemble without its own amp/amplification. If this had been a commercial performance, there would have been one or two mics placed right above or next to the koto to amplify it through the central sound board. But alas, this was a poor community college :) and so all that could be done is to minimize background accompaniment during the solo.
thank you for sharing. beautiful.