Hear music inspired by or using the sounds of temple gardens in Kyoto, and other Asian gardens, in works by Evan Ziporyn, John Cage, and Tôsha Suihô. Listen to “Ryoanji” a piece by John Cage named for the famous rock garden at the Zen temple in Kyoto, with its sense of ritual and suspended time. Then, there’s David Bowie’s “Moss Garden,” from Heroes, inspired by that famous garden in Kyoto at Saihoji Temple. In the piece, electronic sounds support what turned out to be a toy-sized koto. Also, listen to a recording made in one of the Kyoto gardens – Daigoji Temple (known for its cherry trees) from flutist Tosha Suiho, with chanting monks as well. It’s from his double-album reflecting on the four seasons in Kyoto.
Also, hear Chinese erhu player Jie-Bing Chen, Indian slide guitarist Vishwa Bhatt and American banjo player Bela Fleck in collaboration on a traditional tune called “Water Garden.” Plus, hear music by composer/arranger/conductor Evan Ziporyn (who also founded Bang on a Can All-Stars), for the string quartet Brooklyn Rider. The work is called “Qi,” exploring the different aspects of Qi, the Chinese concept of psychophysical energies that permeate the universe. Naturally, we’ll hear the movement subtitled “Garden.”
Program #4373, Music for Asian Gardens (First aired 6/1/2020)
ARTIST: Tôsha Suihô
WORK: Spring_ III. Daigoji [10:33]
RECORDING: 四季の笛 (Die Vier Jahreszeiten In Kyoto)
SOURCE: Teldec
INFO: Out of print, but try Discogs.com
ARTIST: David Bowie
WORK: Moss Garden [4:57]
RECORDING: Heroes
SOURCE: Virgin #21908
INFO: store.davidbowie.com
ARTIST: Yesaroun' Duo
WORK: John Cage: Ryoanji [8:59]
RECORDING: Heavy Up/Heavy Down
SOURCE: GM Recordings 12077
INFO: gmrecordings.com
ARTIST: Bela Fleck / VM Bhatt / Jie-Bing Chen
WORK: Water Gardens [4:38]
RECORDING: Tabula Rasa
SOURCE: Water Lily Acoustics - #WLACS 44
INFO: waterlilyacoustics.com
ARTIST: Tôsha Suihô
WORK: Kaihô [13:18]
RECORDING: 四季の笛 (Die Vier Jahreszeiten In Kyoto)
SOURCE: Teldec
INFO: Out of print, but try Discogs.com
ARTIST: Brooklyn Rider
WORK: Evan Ziporyn: Qi - Garden [9:39]
RECORDING: Spontaneous Symbols
SOURCE: In A Circle Records
INFO: brooklynrider.bandcamp.com
