Concert: Euphonies of Koto, Shamisen & Tabla
2017/11/13
Japanese Koto & Shamisen player and Jazz singer-songwriter Sumie Kaneko creates music that spans a millennium. A master in the traditional repertoire of these ancient instruments, she has also pioneered their use in jazz and experimental music, through solo and group performances worldwide.
Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata organized concerts by Ms. Kaneko to showcase traditional Japanese instrumental music to the music lovers of Kolkata. She also presented her own creations which were a harmonious blend of Western and Japanese music. The instruments she used were Koto (a 13 stringed Japanese instrument similar to a harp) and Shamisen (a 3 stringed Japanese instrument similar to a guitar).
More than 200 people attended the musical evening. Ms. Kaneko explained the instruments and the songs to the audience before her performance and was particularly impressed with their music-appreciating nature.
She signed off for the evening with a surprise performance of a popular Tagore song in Bengali. A listener commented ‘Minimalism at its very best’.
The highlight of the evening was her duet performance with the tabla maestro Pandit Tanmoy Bose. The audience was thrilled by the ensemble of Koto, Shamisen and Tabla in addition to two Bengali song performances by Ms. Kaneko. Both Ms. Kaneko and Pandit Bose presented their solo performances as well which were equally enchanting.
Around 300 music lovers had gathered for the evening and many stated that they will eagerly look forward to more such concerts in the future.
These events are enlisted in the agenda of ‘2017 The Year of Japan-India Friendly Exchanges’.
for the aspiring musicians & music lovers of Calcutta School of Music
Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata organized concerts by Ms. Kaneko to showcase traditional Japanese instrumental music to the music lovers of Kolkata. She also presented her own creations which were a harmonious blend of Western and Japanese music. The instruments she used were Koto (a 13 stringed Japanese instrument similar to a harp) and Shamisen (a 3 stringed Japanese instrument similar to a guitar).
Nehru Children's Museum
Ms. Sumie Kaneko performed at Nehru Children's Museum on 5 November 2017. Around 120 children and their parents were present and sincerely applauded her performance. For most of them it was the first time experience of Japanese music and traditional Japanese instruments. Birla Academy of Art & Culture
An open air concert was organized by Birla Academy of Art & Culture in collaboration with Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata, supported by the Japanese Association of Commerce and Industry in Kolkata on 8 November 2017.More than 200 people attended the musical evening. Ms. Kaneko explained the instruments and the songs to the audience before her performance and was particularly impressed with their music-appreciating nature.
She signed off for the evening with a surprise performance of a popular Tagore song in Bengali. A listener commented ‘Minimalism at its very best’.
GD Birla Sabhagar
Consulate General of Japan in Kolkata with the support of the Japanese Association of Commerce and Industry in Kolkata organized the last concert of Ms. Kaneko’s tour in the city on 11 November 2017 at GD Birla Sabhagar.The highlight of the evening was her duet performance with the tabla maestro Pandit Tanmoy Bose. The audience was thrilled by the ensemble of Koto, Shamisen and Tabla in addition to two Bengali song performances by Ms. Kaneko. Both Ms. Kaneko and Pandit Bose presented their solo performances as well which were equally enchanting.
Around 300 music lovers had gathered for the evening and many stated that they will eagerly look forward to more such concerts in the future.
These events are enlisted in the agenda of ‘2017 The Year of Japan-India Friendly Exchanges’.
Other Performances
During her week-long stay in Kolkata, Ms. Kaneko also performed on many other occasions including the following:
for the underprivileged children of Apanjan, OFFER (a NGO) for the students of Future Hope School
for the underprivileged children of Apanjan, OFFER (a NGO) for the students of Future Hope School
for the aspiring musicians & music lovers of Calcutta School of Music