vocals & san-shin Shinobu Kikuchi
cello Yuriko Mikami 
arranged by Shinobu Kikuchi
photo by Smart Comma
recorded at Tranquilo Studio at Milan
Sound Engineer Cinzia Guareschi
A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHERLAND

Japanese traditional folk song
Upon a hill a woman sing looking towards the sea where her fisherman husband’s ship is going to the open sea.
They say that the voice blends in with nature and draws a beautiful white spiral that will get up to the sky

Su una collina una donna canta guardando verso il mare dove l’imbarcazione del marito, che è un pescatore, sta andando verso il largo.
Si dice che così la voce entri in armonia con la natura e disegni una splendida spirale bianca che arriverà al cielo.

Imanukajakumo Bushi

vocals Shinobu Kikuchi
photo by Yuki Seli
recorded at Tranquilo Studio at Milan
Sound Engineer Cinzia Guareschi
A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHERLAND

Japanese traditional folk song
This is a ditty which was sung by itinerants storytellers before starting a street show

È una filastrocca che veniva cantata dai narratori viaggianti, itineranti, dai cantastorie prima di iniziare lo spettacolo di strada.

Kanchorin Bushi

vocals Shinobu Kikuchi
cello Yuriko Mikami
arranged by Shinobu Kikuchi
photo by Yuki Seli
recorded at Tranquilo Studio at Milan
Sound Engineer  Cinzia Guareschi
A TRIBUTE TO MY  MOTHERLAND

This song is a typical nursery rhyme from Kyoto, where children used to sing it to remind streets’ names while bouncing a ball on the ground. Even nowadays in Kyoto, children play and sing this nursery rhyme.

Questo brano arriva da Kyoto dove si usava cantare questa  filastrocca mentre, per ricordare i nomi delle vie,  si faceva rimbalzare a terra una palla.
Ancora oggi i bambini di Kyoto giocando con la palla cantano questa canzone.

Teragoko & Marutake Ebesu

vocals Shinobu Kikuchi
cello Yuriko Mikami
arranged by Shinobu Kikuchi
photo by Yuki Seli
recorded at Tranquilo Studio at Milan
Sound Engineer Cinzia Guareschi
A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHERLAND

Japanese traditional folk love song
This is a story about a young man in love with a dark-haired girl who lives in the island of Sado, in front of the coast of Niigata. The strong sea currents make navigation difficult and consequently the chance to meet.

E' la storia di un  giovane innamorato di una ragazza dai capelli neri, che abita nell’isola di fronte alla costa di Niigata: l’isola di Sado. Le forti correnti del mare rendono difficile la navigazione e di conseguenza la possibilità di incontrarsi.

Sado Okesa

vocals Shinobu Kikuchi
cello Yuriko Mikami
arranged by Shinobu Kikuchi
photo by Mayna Maddalena Acanfora
recorded at Tranquilo Studio at Milan
Sound Engineer Cinzia Guareschi

A TRIBUTE TO MY MOTHERLAND

Japanese traditional folk song 
This piece is about Onari, a divinity of the shamanic tradition, and priestesses who were handed down this role since ancient times.
The main theme is spiritual power and how these women rise through chants and prayers as protectress of their husbands who left to go fishing on the open sea.

Questo brano narra della divinità Onari, della tradizione sciamanica e di sacerdotesse che si tramandavano questo ruolo fin dall’antichità. 
Si parla di potenza spirituale e di come queste donne si innalzassero, attraverso i canti e le preghiere, a protettrici dei mariti che partivano per la pesca in alto mare.

Yoisura Bushi

DUE SONETTI DI DANTE, Paolo Coggiola
https://open.spotify.com/track/1p6FZ019agRSnISIMhBE6o
https://open.spotify.com/track/1XOTQUDVA2GbThHQWP9aLNThe 

Voice, Aki Osada - Flute, Daniele Montagner - Lute, Ugo Nastrucci - Armonium, Tiziano Nizzia - drum, Manu Saladino

Ensemble Voyagers created by Daniele Montagner is an "open" ensemble that is dedicated to the exploration of musical jewels that go from the roots of Western civilization to the traditions of extra-European cultures, passing through medieval music up to the present day. With the use of original musical instruments or made according to the popular organology, a sound journey is undertaken through the aesthetic that has represented and represents the history of Humanity, its roots and its evolution.

Due Sonetti di Dante

De gli occhi de la mia donna si move

TWO SONGS FROM OKINAWA
https://open.spotify.com/track/3tYHrbUjeB2zIX0rkR2A7o
https://open.spotify.com/track/62xDxjUP1FwY3ng8c8vncg

Voice, Shinobu Kikuchi - Flute, Daniele Montagner -
drum, Manu Saladino

Ensemble Voyagers created by Daniele Montagner is an "open" ensemble that is dedicated to the exploration of musical jewels that go from the roots of Western civilization to the traditions of extra-European cultures, passing through medieval music up to the present day. With the use of original musical instruments or made according to the popular organology, a sound journey is undertaken through the aesthetic that has represented and represents the history of Humanity, its roots and its evolution.

Two Songs from Okinawa

Asadoya Yunta

Chinsagu No Hana
https://open.spotify.com/track/3tYHrbUjeB2zIX0rkR2A7o
Chinsagu No Hana https://open.spotify.com/track/62xDxjUP1FwY3ng8c8vncg

The Ensemble Voyagers created by Daniele Montagner is an "open" ensemble that is dedicated to the exploration of musical jewels that go from the roots of Western civilization to the traditions of extra-European cultures, passing through medieval music up to the present day. With the use of original musical instruments or made according to the popular organology, a sound journey is undertaken through the aesthetic that has represented and represents the history of Humanity, its roots and its evolution.

Chinsagu No Hana

"El cant dels ocells" (The song of the birds) is a traditional Catalan Christmas song and lullaby. It tells of nature's joy at learning of the birth of Jesus Christ.

El Cant dels Ocells

From debut album Ground of Its Own, released June 2012.

Sam’s Mercury Award nominated 2012 debut album is a work several years in conception which brought together a multitude of experiences and influences for a musician who has cut an unique course in his artistic development. This 8-track release mixed by the legendary John Wood (of Nick Drake fame) comprises material gleaned from years of research and exploration into the forgotten songs and sounds of the British Isles.

The Ballad of George Collins

Singer-songwriter in pursuit of the perfect fusion between traditional Japanese folk music and classical music. Shinobu is on a journey to find a universal language of music prevalent to everyone on earth. The expression of her voice is constantly evolving, characterised by vocal power and intensity, naturalness and truthfulness.

音霊Otodama means “The soul of sounds” and the sound vibrates, communicates and express, reaches, recalls, harmonizes, fulfils the desires, gives strength , unites, heals, has the power to cast out demons and evilness.
“The soul of sounds” is a project born from the mix between traditional folk Japanese chants with the sonority and expressivity of Western classic music. The concerto presents itself through a “voice”in japanese language accompanied by multiples timbres of cello and San-shin(typical japanese stringed instrument).
The chants talk about Gods, prayers, farmers’ and fishermen’s work, lullabies, nursery rhyme and songs of love. These tracks are born, sung and loved the daily life of inhabitants, they have been passed down orally and preciously cared for through the centuries.
They are full of history and desires, of rhythms and melodies which warmed the heart and by singing them together made the ties between the inhabitants stronger.
Today by sharing these chants we can see the life and thoughts of our ancestors.
All the tracks have been revisited keeping the melodic beauty of the original chants.
A tribute to my motherland.
Shinobu Kikuchi

Imanukajakumo Bushi

Shinobu Kikuchi

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