Yukihiro Atsumi Explores New Musical Possibilities in "Hogaku 2.0" Study Group | MUSIC

MUSIC | A musical project researching in Kyoto since 2012

New Music Created from Classical Japanese Music: "Hogaku 2.0"

This is the "Hogaku 2.0" Study Group, a project where guitarist Yukihiro Atsumi researches the possibilities of new music created from classical Japanese music, enjoying it live alongside participants.

Text by ATSUMI Yukihiro

Releasing Works Expressing "Hogaku 2.0" on Guitar

Guitarist and musician Yukihiro Atsumi, who leads NIPPON NOTE RECORDS, has been researching a new form of music derived from classical Japanese music, dubbed "Hogaku 2.0," in Kyoto since 2012. An event will be held on Thursday, April 13, 2017, at 'Haretara Sora ni Mame' in Daikanyama, where he will perform alongside players of traditional Japanese instruments like the shamisen and koto, and discuss the future of Hogaku.

Through guitar, I've explored various genres like rock and jazz. While pursuing original music, I thought it would be wonderful to connect the history and present of the rich Japanese music rooted in my homeland. This led me to begin studying the classics in Kyoto. As the saying goes, 'three years on a stone,' I've finally created the foundation for a system, "Hogaku 2.0," that can express Hogaku with any instrument. Now, I'm entering the stage of refining this system with traditional Japanese musicians. The event, "Hogaku 2.0" Study Group, is an opportunity to explore the future possibilities of Hogaku together with the audience in a live setting.

Even within the realm of classics, there's 'Gagaku' (ancient court music), 'Nagauta' (long epic songs), 'Noh' (traditional theater), or instruments like the 'shamisen' and 'koto' – the structures vary greatly depending on the instrument. What kind of music is "Hogaku 2.0," which seems to take the best elements from these? We invite you to discover it with your own ears.

The inaugural "Hogaku 2.0" Study Group also serves as a release party for Atsumi's work "Japanese Guitar Song Book," where he expresses "Hogaku 2.0" through solo guitar. This album is like a musical history book, expressing the journey of Japanese music to the present day with a single guitar, featuring a solo guitar arrangement of 'Etenraku' from the Nara period's Gagaku, and a cover of 'Rokudan no Shirabe' from Edo period's koto music.

We aim to experimentally create new music with a Western instrument like the guitar, keeping new music theories in mind, and to discover its potential... Please embody it with your own sensibilities.

Yukihiro Atsumi
A musician who proposes various ways to enjoy music through the guitar. His activities are diverse, including the "Hogaku 2.0" project, the trio band "Conguero Tres Hoofers" with tap dancer SARO and percussionist Hideo Nishioka, and music education in nursery schools. His unit with Kitaro Nakamura, bassist for Masayoshi Yamazaki and Kenji Ozawa, "Saiko Visions," will release their debut album "Best Vision" on April 1st. The album features guest appearances by Masayoshi Yamazaki, Hidehiko Ishizuka, Shinji Miyake, and Unaigumi.

Japanese Guitar Song Book(DATA ver.)
Variations | 2 types (16bit 44.1kHz, 24bit 48kHz)
Price | 1620 yen
URL | http://atsumiyukihiro.net/nnrcs.html

"Hogaku 2.0" Study Group in TOKYO
~Yukihiro Atsumi "Japanese Guitar Song Book" Release Party~
Date | Thursday, April 13, 2017
Time | (OPEN) 19:00 (START) 20:00
Fee | (Advance) 3000 yen + 1 drink (Same day) 3500 yen + 1 drink
Performers | Yutaka Koyama (Tsugaru Shamisen Koyama-ryu 3rd Generation) x Masaki Hayashi (Piano), Kou Kakihigashi (Ikuta-ryu Koto Performer), Yukihiro Atsumi (Japanese Guitar)
Venue | Daikanyama Haretara Sora ni Mame
20-20-B2 Monsherry Daikanyama, Daikanyamacho, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Reservations/Inquiries | info@doublefive.net (Kato) *Advance reservations close at 24:00 on Wednesday, April 12th.