Album Notes

"Meditative without being mushy; rhythmic sections as well as slow streams of notes create a calming, otherworldly atmosphere." - The Stranger, Seattle A CD BABY EDITOR'S PICK! AND "Notable Northwest Recording" pick from Seattle's KBCS Radio Station! This recording is a tribute to the Japanese composer Sawai Tadao (1937-1997), and is the result of a year-long series of Sawai’s music in Seattle entitled “Simply Sawai: A Concert Series in Four Seasons” in 2007-08. The music is dramatic and compelling, performed by American koto master Elizabeth Falconer, with John Falconer (shakuhachi bamboo flute) and Tari Nelson-Zagar (violin). Elizabeth Falconer was a longtime student of Sawai Tadao and his wife Kazue in Japan and was a member of their ensemble. Her lifelong dedication to the instrument and her love of Japan has resulted in numerous recordings, awards and international recognition. Her personal style of musical expressiveness also comes effectively into play as she explores these works, from the very melodic koto and shakuhachi duet, "Song of the Wind" to the more poignant bass koto solo, "Fireflies", inspired by "Grave of the Fireflies", a beautiful and sad story of war. Here with her are her husband John on the meditative shakuhachi bamboo flute on two works and Tari Nelson-Zagar, on a stunning violin performance in "Singing Sand." This is the first of a two-CD set to be published in 2008;the second is "Stirring Autumn." They are the only collection of Sawai's work published in the States.