Product Description
Fascinating CD of uzagaku, the gagaku music of the Ryukyu Kingdom era. Over 100 years ago, uzagaku was performed during formal court celebrations at Shuri castle. It was often played when special envoys were visiting from China, and derived from Chinese music. After the Ryukyu Kingdom was abolished and Okinawa became a part of Japan in 1879, uzagaku became almost extinct. Now, nine tunes have been revived by the group of artists called 'Uzagaku Fukugen Enso Kenkyu-kai' in Okinawa and the instruments have been restored. Those instruments include string instruments such as sangen, niko (erhu), yongen, biwa, yonko, gekkin, flutes such as yokobue and percussion such as doram sanba. While the style of singing has also been replicated.
