COMPOSERS: Takemitsu
LABELS: Philips
WORKS: Songs for Mixed Chorus
PERFORMER: Shin-Yu Kai Choir/Shin Sekiya
CATALOGUE NO: 438 135-2 DDD
Takemitsu freestyle sounds like a tautology. But here he is, singing along in the manner of early jazz and pre-rock pop. The new piece, from 1992, is Will Tomorrow, I Wonder, be Cloudy or Clear?, specially written for these excellent performers. But In a Small Room – a Japanese glee – dates from 1955 and is among his earliest works. Texts apart, these could be the songs of Gershwin, Grainger or Delius. Easy listening from a highly unusual source. Nicholas Williams
Takemitsu: Songs for Mixed Chorus
Takemitsu freestyle sounds like a tautology. But here he is, singing along in the manner of early jazz and pre-rock pop. The new piece, from 1992, is Will Tomorrow, I Wonder, be Cloudy or Clear?, specially written for these excellent performers. But In a Small Room – a Japanese glee – dates from 1955 and is among his earliest works. Texts apart, these could be the songs of Gershwin, Grainger or Delius. Easy listening from a highly unusual source. Nicholas Williams
Published: January 20, 2012 at 2:30 pm