Duo Sõkyõ perform the traditional music of Japan in a colorful, elegant and powerful stage presentation. Their repertoire ranges from the early Edo period (1603 onwards) to twentieth century and contemporary Japanese compositions.

The classical music of the Edo period evolved in the hands of several genius composers who wrote for a chamber music setting. It is an intimate and highly focused musical experience, taking the listener along with not only the instrumental tone poem, but also the sung story line, often a theme of love, loss, nature or the evanescence of life.

With the advent of the Meiji period (1868), Japanese composers exposed to Western musical forms began to write music in a new idiom, resulting in exquisite lyrical pieces, still thoroughly Japanese in feeling, but with a European-influenced timbral palette. Duo Sõkyõ performs many of these modern masterpieces as an interesting foil to the earlier classical compositions.

Lecture series: With a concert performance comes the option to include an academic and musical lecture presentation to college students or the public. Themes include: The aesthetic traditions of old Japan: wabi sabi etc.; the development of musical forms in Japanese traditional music.

2005

For all bookiing enquiries contact: David Sawyer david@japanshakuhachi.com (303) 666-5581

2006

2007-2008