Japan: Nagauta

This is another incredible release on the Ocora label from Radio France and features four long pieces (nagauta), ranging from 12 to over 31 minutes, of pieces performed in the Kabuki theater, along with classical dance.  Intense vocals accompanied by the shamisen, a three-stringed lute, and flutes along with three types of drums, provide a fascinating sound palette, though anyone who isn't attuned to the instrumental tunings and singing style, much less the length of the songs, may struggle with this music.

The Kineya Ensemble includes a quartet of vocalists and shamisen players, a flautist, and five drummers while the four works date from 1774, 1834, 1856 and 1933, with the first three dating to before Westernization became a priority in Japan to preserve its independence and prevent what happened to China at the hand of Western colonizers.  The 1930s piece, composed as the country was heading into the military dictatorship that led to Japan's near-ruin in World War II, draws from classical tradition, but did not accompany dance or theatrical presentation.

For this listener, classical Japanese music is fascinating and mesmerizing and, among the many recordings heard from that country and tradition, this is among the most interesting.  Kudos to Ocora for its issuing of this release in 1997 as part of its phenomenal roster of world music albums.