Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Japan Tour Finale: Gen-Shin-An

Another wonderful musical tour of Japan comes to a close, and perhaps I saved the best for last. (Or someone saved it for me.) Taro Terahara organises a beautiful concert at Japanese tea gardens Gen-Shin-An every October, and I actually played there in 2005. So I was very eagerly awaiting this year's concert, whose main artist was to be Steve Oda, a wonderful sarod player and old student of Ustad Ali Akbar Khan. It is a rare afternoon concert featuring wonderful musicians in a wonderful setting with a wonderful audience (including many musicians and music students), and such an honour to be part of.

Gen-Shin-An - tea-house and gardens in Nishi-Kasai, Tokyo

Yuki opened the concert with two mantras, dedicated to Guru, Lakshmi and Saraswati.

Shen with Taro Terahara (bansuri) playing Raga Madhuvanti

Steve Oda performs autumn raga Hindol-Hem as the sky darkens. Many many people were weeping listening to his music. Such a sublime artist in an inspiring setting!

Closing out with a jugalbandi in Raga Kirwani

1 comment:

Steve's Journal said...

Many many thanks to you and Yuki-san for sharing these memories...as you said so appropriately 'now you're a part of it'!!! Arigato gozaimashta!