“Snow Globe” Kodo Performance Videos
In the videos above, the bamboo flutes we are playing are shinobue happon-choshi (#8) utamono (song type).
The standard version features taiko, shinobue (bamboo flutes), tebira (cymbals), and a koto (Japanese harp) part.
The alternative version is for groups without a koto, which has a katsugi okedo (barrel drum on a shoulder strap) part instead of the koto part.
Message from the Composer
I composed a ballad entitled Snow Globe for the 7th Kodo One Earth Music release. Its Japanese title is Hitohira, which can be translated in a range of ways, such as “one leaf,” “one petal,” and “one snowflake.”
Our world is filled with beautiful yet fleeting moments, like snow falling heavily, or petals dancing on a breeze. These moments disappear quickly, which makes them dazzle us all the more with their power, there and then. I wanted to capture an array of scenes like that with this composition—within this Snow Globe.
Sounds emerge then vanish, then they echo off into the distance. I would love for you to play each sound with warmth and strength, creating a snow globe filled with fluttering, layering sounds.
This is a piece for koto (Japanese harp), fue (bamboo flutes), and a taiko ensemble. It’s the first Kodo One Earth Music work featuring a koto part and created with a guest artist. We are truly grateful to koto player Shoko Kikutake for collaborating with us on this piece, turning my idea for the koto part into natural, exquisite koto phrases and then joining us on Sado Island for the recording and filming.
If you have someone in your group who plays the koto: wonderful! And if not, I hope you’ll consider collaborating with a koto player, taking up the koto, or using another instrument instead of the koto—harp, guitar, xylophone…anything goes. We want to make it easy for taiko groups that don’t have a koto or koto player to enjoy performing this piece, too, so we have prepared two arrangements: one with the koto part and one without it.
I really hope many people will enjoy playing Snow Globe in a range of formations.
Yuki Hirata, Composer
About Kodo One Earth Music
Kodo One Earth Music compositions are original pieces composed by Kodo, created so people around the world can enjoy playing our music more freely. Anyone, anywhere, any time.
To help make it easier for many people to learn and perform this music, we have:
・posted Kodo One Earth Music reference videos on YouTube.
・made free downloadable sheet music available.
・relaxed some of the usage restrictions, such as the need to request copyright permission.
Kodo One Earth Music Around the World
We love seeing videos of people around the world playing Kodo One Earth Music.We’d like to share these with our followers via our website and on social media.
Kodo One Earth Music Around the World
Please share your videos with these hashtags: #kodoshunpuu #kodouneri #kodoharuka #kodohotobashiru #kodoaoao #kodosandan #kodosnowglobe
#oneearthmusic
And tag us: @kodoheartbeat