© 2003 Lawrence Tuczynski

Title Ballata Sinfonica: Keiko Nosaka Recital
CD Label Camerata
CD Number 28CM-651
Music Composed by: Ichiro Hiogo (track 1)
Yuji Takahashi (tracks 2 & 3)
Takashi Kako (tracks 4 & 5)
Akira Ifukube (tracks 6 & 7)
Music Performed by: Keiko Nosaka
Number of tracks 7
Running time 78:36
Number of discs 1
Year of release/manufacture 12-20-2001

REVIEW Auguat 10, 2003

This disc contains music by four different composers, including Akira Ifukube, and performed by Keiko Nosaka. It was recorded on four different dates. Track # 1 was recorded September 4 & 5, 2001 at Makioka Arts Hall, Yamanashi, Japan. Tracks # 2 & #3 were recorded August 10, 1997 at Chichibu Muse Park, Saitama, Japan and Tracks # 4 through 7 were recorded on November 5, 2001 at Tsuda Hall in Tokyo. On tracks 6 & 7 the 25-striged koto was played by Keiko Nosaka while the bass 25-stringed koto was played by Mizuuyo Komiya.

Tracks 1 through 5 on this CD are very slow moving and consisting almost entirely of the stringed koto. We don't pick up the pace a little until we hit Ifukube's "Ballata Sinfonica" on track #6. Akira's Ifukube's pieces on this CD do appear on other CD's and in my personal opinion are better on those CD's although this rendering was interesting. The other pieces on this CD didn't really grab me and for that reason this CD would not be high on my list to recommend to others.

Ballata Sinfonica: Keiko Nosaka Recital

  1. Canto Magico (2000)
  2. While I Was Crossing The Bridge (1984)
  3. Samushiro (1997)
  4. Wind In The Water Depths (2001)
  5. Empty Trance (2001)
  6. Ballata Sinfonica Duo For Treble And Bass 25-String Kpto: Proma Ballata: Allegro capriccioso
  7. Ballata Sinfonica Duo For Treble And Bass 25-String Kpto: Seconda Ballata: Andante rapsodica