Credits:

Keiko Kakuma

Description:

Musical scenes crossing continents and eras - The first release from Birds' Tale Collective, a new label established by harpsichordist Tomoko Kakuma. This album features works by two major composers of the Baroque period, when the harpsichord was at its height, and works by Mozart, whose works would have been performed on the harpsichord, as well as works from the 20th century, 200 years down the road. It was a pleasure to hear these veteran musicians perform together. The two musicians, who have been active in different genres and regions, such as Japan and Germany, on ancient and modern instruments, can be expected to give a fresh performance. (Keiko Kakuma (violin) began playing the violin at the age of five under the guidance of a gifted teacher and won the first prize at the All-Japan Student Music Competition at the age of 11. Upon graduation, he joined the Wuppertal Symphony Orchestra in Germany, where he served as assistant concertmaster for 37 years, and toured Japan under Chief Conductor Toshiyuki Ueoka in 2007 and 2010 before leaving the orchestra in 2013. He studied with Ryosaku Kubota, Takeshi Kobayashi, Hideo Saito, and in Germany with R. Schulz, M. Schwalbe, and I. Ozim.She has been involved in chamber music of various compositions, especially sonata evenings with Kazuhiko Nakajima, and has performed as an official member of TRIO PHLOX (Piano Trio) and West German Chamber Orchestra in Germany and Europe until now (2018). ＜Tomoko Kakuma (harpsichord) graduated from Senzoku Gakuen College of Music. She studied piano under Hiroko Yoshino and Shigeko Otsuka. Studied harpsichord solo technique and accompaniment with figured bass with the late Motoko Nabeshima at Origo et practica (Society for the Study of Ancient Music). Completed a master class with Ms. E. Fadini in Milan. Performed solo and ensemble with violin at the Cathedral in Acqua Pendente, Italy, solo performances with original instruments in Germany, and toured the U.S. as a member of the ensemble "Ongaku Sangamai". He has released six Ongaku Samadai CDs, among which "Bach" won the Sarai Grand Prize, and served as the representative of the Society for the Study of Ancient Music until 2017. He lectures and performs throughout Japan. Regulus