Tomoko Sugawara: Along The Silk Road CD

The kugo is an ancient Asian-style harp that flourished during the first millenium, at the height of the period when the Silk Road was a main and central trade route through Asia. Unlike European harps, the kugo is angular with an "L" shape, which allows for the right amount of tension to create a bolder plucked sound. On ALONG THE SILK ROAD, harpist Tomoko Sugawara performs on a reconstructed kugo created in Kumtura, located along the historical Silk Road. The pieces are mostly performed solo, with some light alto flute and percussion in places. Sugawara's approach has a classical quality to it, while also bearing a modern touch in the composition style of the melodies. The music also bears a sparse quality similar to traditional Japanese music, where silence is meaningful and precision is key with the way the notes are structured. This exotic and meditative collection (perfect for museums, spas, gift stores, Asian societies, and music outlets) revives an ethereal 4,000-year-old instrument (previously evidenced only by beautiful paintings from antiquity), played to perfection by the beautiful Japanese harpist Tomoko Sugawara. Handsome digipak and 16-page booklet feature fascinating liner notes by art archeologist Bo Lawergren detailing the 4,000-year history of the Kugo and its music, illustrated with beautiful paintings from antiquity. The musical program juxtaposes works from Chinese, Islamic, Persian, and Spanish antiquity with the debut of new compositions for Kugo by award-winning composers Stephen Dydo, Robert Lombardo, Kikuko Masumoto, and Almir Mahyar Tafreshipour. Sugawara is joined by renowned flute visionary Robert Dick on alto flute and NYC-based Turkish master musician/ethnomusicologist Ozan Aksöy on percussion. Tomoko Sugawara: kugo Robert Dick: alto flute Ozan Aksöy: bendir, darabukka Tracks: 1. Archaic Phrase for Kugo 2. The Waves of Kokonor 3. Wang Zhaojun 4. Qawl 5. Haikugo I 6. Haikugo II 7. Haikugo III 8. A Night in Shiras 9. Shakugo I 10. Shakugo II 11. Shakugo III 12. Cantiga de Santa Maria, No. 249 13. Cantiga de Santa Maria, No. 213