"Abeya" - Tsugaru Shamisen Ensemble

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Abeya, Japan’s top Tsugaru-Shamisen performance ensemble consists of brothers Kinzaburo and Ginzaburo Abe, winners of Japan’s prestigious National Tsugaru-Shamisen Competition.

Joining them is the beautiful Maya Nemoto, a virtuoso of numerous folk songs.

All were trained by the great Hidesaburo Abe, father of Kinzaburo and Ginzaburo. Together they are Japan’s celebrated masters of the great folk art of Tsugaru-Shamisen, and represent the core of Abeya.

Their performance style is a creative blending of the Japanese traditional arts with the personality and sensibility of Japan’s younger generation. The soul of the traditional music performed with the Tsugaru-Shamisen is said to be the powerful vibrations produced by its three strings. The Tsugaru-Shamisen features a larger body and thicker strings than the usual shamisen, and performers keep a distinctive percussive beat by striking the body of the instrument with the plectrum on each stroke. This gives the instrument its distinctive timbre, and this talented young group has mastered the abilities and skills necessary to become Japan’s top Tsugaru-Shamisen performers.

This performance is presented by the The Japan Foundation, with support from the Consulate General of Japan in Honolulu and the UHM Music Department.

Ticket Information
Free Admission

Event Sponsor
Music Department, Manoa Campus

More Information
956-8742, uhmmusic@hawaii.edu, http://www.hawaii.edu/uhmmusic/schedule.htm

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