Album Notes

The Matsu Take Ensemble is the only Japanese music ensemble in Montreal: 2 shakuhachi player, 1 shinobue player, 2 percusionnists, 1 koto player and one dancer. This is our first CD. Our aim is to promote Japanese traditional and classical music. Our repertoire includes honkyoku pieces, the solo repertoire of the shakuhachi of the Zen buddhist monks, folk songs and dances (from different regions within Japan, mainly north of Japan, including Okinawa), geisha songs. We also perform originals pieces and do improvisation in the spirit of Japanese traditional music. The shakuhachi pieces are either solo or in duet, the arrangement being original arrangements by Bruno Deschênes, the artistic director of the ensemble. We try to be as authentic as possible. Come to discover the spirit of Japanese traditional music.