Album Notes

It is hard to describe the style of this composition in one-sentence because it is totally new aged. This album is featuring the shakuhachi but it doesn't sound like the traditional Japanese one. It rather sounds like a contemporary jazz featuring the shakuhachi.

Followings are the composition notes and the artist bio.

In producing this album, we chose three different instruments: shakuhachi,piano and cidelo ihos (a new type of percussion). Though these three instruments may not seem like a good combination, I feel they worked very well together and with the outstanding performances, they expressed my compositions in a very meaningful way. The rich tones of the shakuhachi accompanied by the piano brings a mysterious feeling to our hearts. It soothes the mind. With the background of the steady piano, the shakuhachi can sing freely and deeply. The cidelo ihos is a new type of percussion instrument, created by a Japanese metalwork artist. Once you hear them, you will realize the uniqueness of their sound. It's almost an earthshaking feeling, and their sound is captivating. With the collaboration of these superb artists, it is my great pleasure to present my compositions to you in this album.

Born and raised in a talented musical family, Haruno Kira has chosen her career in contemporary music composition. Majoring in composition and arranging at Berklee College of Music, Boston Massachusetts, she graduated the college with superior and outstanding achievements. Performers of her compositions have concurred that her compositions are outstanding.

Kira is niece of world famous composer Toru Takemitsu. The same blood which lifted Takemitsu to be one of the most gifted composers of our time is, in fact, running through Kira's veins. However, we don't promote her as a talented composer simply because of her blood - we are enthusiastic about her because her works have proven that she is an excellent composer in her own right. Undoubtedly, she is going to be one of the most impressive composers of contemporary music of our day.

The characteristics of Kira's works are a beautiful fusion of various musical concepts including modern jazz. Since her educational background as a composer was received at Berklee, she loves the improvisational parts of the free jazz style. However, she does not ignore classical harmony entirely. In her works, the composer moves freely and beautifully from free jazz to classical ideas. Her soulful jazz spirit, which was inspired at Berklee, gives her music such a brilliance. Various musical elements are connected naturally but objectively in her mind.