IMJS: Institute for Japanese Cultural Heritage Initiatives in collaboration with the Columbia Music Performance Program presents our 15th season concert featuring renowned musicians from Japan and New York and Columbia Gagaku Instrumental Ensemble of New York.

Free and open to the public, but registration is required.   

Program includes:

Part I - Gagaku: Sacred Soundscapes Reborn

In memory of Sukeyasu Shiba (1935-2019)

SAIBARA (Ancient vocal genre)

"Gokuraku wa" (Paradise) (1993) by Sukeyasu Shiba

GAGAKU ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

Hyōjō no netori (Prelude in E mode)

Etenraku (Music of the Divine Heavens)

Sadachō no netori (Prelude in D mode)

Ryō-Ō (Chinese King of Ryō)

Part II - Women Who Made/Make Music

In celebration of Woman's History Month and International Women's Day

ELIZABETH BROWN MEETS OTOMAE

A Glimpse at Dawn (2019) by Elizabeth Brown (World Premiere)

In honor of the 400th anniversary of composer-nun Isabella Leonarda’s birth (1620 –1704); Inspired by Otomae's Lyrics No.26 in Ryōjin Hishō; Commissioned by the IMJS: Institute for Japanese Cultural Heritage Initiatives

Yoko Reikano Kimura (shamisen/voice)

Nancy Kito (harpsichord, Ensemble Leonarda)

Adam Young (bass viol, Ensemble Leonarda)

Susan Graham (baroque flute, Ensemble Leonarda)

Claire Smith Bermingham (baroque violin, Ensemble Leonarda)

HILDEGARD MEETS OTOMAE

Hildegard von Bingen of Germany and Otomae of Japan, singer-composers and 12th-century contemporaries who believed in the spiritual power of song, meet and share each other's songs in the 21st century.

Otomae’s Lyrics No. 566 in Ryōjin Hishō:

Itsushika to kimi ni to omoishi (One of these days...)

Ayumi Shimonoto (music/voice)

Otomae’s Lyrics No. 26 in Ryōjin Hishō:

Hotoke wa tsune ni imasedomo (They say Lord Buddha’s everywhere...)

Hildegard von Bingen (music)

Evelyn Troester DeGraf and vocalists from the GHOSTLIGHT Chorus (voice)

Otomae’s Lyrics No. 177 in Ryōjin Hishō:

Gokurakujōdo no medetasa wa (Paradise is glorious...)

Evelyn Troester DeGraf and vocalists from the GHOSTLIGHT Chorus (music/voice)