The Ensemble Nipponia was formed in 1964 and is dedicated to the performance of traditional and contemporary commissioned work for traditional Japanese instruments. They have been touring all around the world. It is still today one of the most known and most respected traditional Japanese chamber music ensembles. Among its members, the most know...

The Ensemble Nipponia was formed in 1964 and is dedicated to the performance of traditional and contemporary commissioned work for traditional Japanese instruments. They have been touring all around the world. It is still today one of the most known and most respected traditional Japanese chamber music ensembles. Among its members, the most known musician is Kohachiro Miyata on shakuhachi, who is considered one of today's best Japanese shakuhachi players. On this CD recorded in 1976, you hear a series of traditional classical pieces for solo shakuhachi (a honkyoku piece and a minyo song or folk song) and shamisen, a koto duet, a piece for biwa and voice, an arrangement of a well-known lullaby, and an 18th century piece for voice, shakuhachi, shamisen, and koto. This CD remains still today one of the classics in Japanese music. ~ Bruno Deschênes, Rovi