The magnificent strings and graceful tones of traditional Chinese instruments create a gentle sweetness that enfolds the listener, and unveils a bridge that links the East and West.
To enhance your enjoyment of the music, fragrant incense sticks are included in the spine of the CD jewel case.
Missa Johnouchi is a Tokyo-born pianist/composer whose chief musical pursuit is international soundtrack work. For this, her debut recording for the Pacific Moon label, Johnouchi surrounds herself with a small string ensemble, a contemporary guitar-bass-percussion trio and four musicians playing traditional Chinese instruments--the erhu (a long, narrow, bowed stringed instrument), the pipa (a pear-shaped, four-stringed lute), the yang qin (duclimer) and the gu zheng (cousin on the Japanese koto). Seeking to evoke imagery of an ancient trade route that parallels Asia's famed Silk Road, Johnouchi creates languid, formal-sounding tone poems that could either soothe the spirit or annoy the senses, depending on how you respond to the higher-pitched character of the Chinese instrumentation. Johnouchi's slow-go pieces cater to those in a reflective state of mind whose tastes lean toward lite pop-classical music and who are receptive to traditional Chinese influences. Her two solo piano selections, "Springtime," and her solo reprise of the opening track, "Asian Wind," are attractive works with broader appeal. Nice bonus: the pop-open spine of the CD case includes four sticks of incense. --Terry Wood
"...incredibly beautiful." -- World Music Portal
"Asian Blossoms is a beautiful aural garden highlighting Oriental instruments against backgrounds of Western melodies in a brilliant collage." -- Ted Cox, New Age Retailer
"Asian Blossoms...is an enchanting and graceful collection of pieces.... Gentle and evocative, this album is a rare find." -- Wind & Wire
"The blend is stunning in its seeming complexity, overwhelming in its ability to create emotional responses by its listeners." -- PowersSound
| 1 | Asian Wind | |
| 2 | Seasons | |
| 3 | Marco Polo | |
| 4 | Song Of Silk Road | |
| 5 | Blossom | |
| 6 | Springtime | |
| 7 | Night Bird | |
| 8 | Butterfly | |
| 9 | Twilight | |
| 10 | Once Upon A Time | |
| 11 | Asian Wind (Piano Version) |
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