MAGICAL MEETING PLACE
The World Came to me, I greeted the World
And the World allowed me to feel its pulse
Liken to a manifestation of fluttering butterflies,
Some would land and linger
To be caressed in their full beauty
And then released
Unharmed to continue their Sacred Journey.
Our purpose fulfilled… for now.
Charles E. Guffey 1998
Who is “Kitaro”? Composer Kitaro,
winner of a Golden Globe Award (OST for the movie Heaven
and Earth) and 43rd Grammy Award for Thinking of You and
recipient of multiple Grammy Award nominations, is revered
for his ability to embody the human spirit with music of
passion and drama. He has released scores of albums and
sold millions in the U.S. alone during his 30-year career.
Kitaro continues to merge the finest of Eastern and Western
cultures and traditions in his music.
On 15 March 2002, in Los Angels, Ca.,
Grammy and Golden Award Winning recording artist, Kitaro
was awarded the Japan America Society's "Art Without
Borders" award at the organizations 93rd Annual Dinner
and Gala Celebration.
The Japan America Society's Art Without
Borders award recognizes individuals whose unique vision
transcends national and cultural borders, and whose work
brings us closer together in a shared experience that enhances
our humanity and mutual appreciation.
Kitaro's immediate popularity was in large
part a result of NHK special program "The Silk Road,"
which was broadcast in1980. In 1987 he released the album,
"The Light of the Spirit," for the enjoyment of
a worldwide audience, subsequently embarking on a highly
successful tour of 25 U.S. cities-a first by a Japanese
artist. Kitaro is also noted for having won the Japan Record
of the Year Special Award the same year. He has five Grammy
nominations to his credit, thus demonstrating his popularity
in the U.S.
Kitaro served as music director for the
1993 film production "Heaven and earth," directed
by Oliver Stone, and was honored Composer's Award for his
achievement at the 51st Golden Globe Awards. And in 2000
he was designated an international environmental artist
by the Global Legislators Organization for a Balanced Environment
(GLOBE). This year, 2002, he also provided music for NHK
special "Four Great Civilizations" and resumed
full-scale activities in Japan amid concert tours of Asia
and America.
All songs are written, arranged and performed
by Kitaro, and produced by Kitaro. Here are a sampling of
the modern, contemporary and ancient instruments Kitaro
plays: Korg Synthesizer / Roland Synthesizer / Prophet 5
/ Mini Moog / 12 String Guitar / Acoustic Guitar / Yamaha
CP-80 Electric Piano / Fender Rhodes / Emulator / Drums
/ percussion / Sitar / Santool / Tambra / Harp / Wave Beam
/ Flute and Taiko (Japanese) Drums.
Kitaro was born in Japan on 4 February
1953 in the Toyohashi, Aichi-Ken Perfecture with the given
family name of Masanori Takahashi. He has lived in the U.S.
for the past several years on a 180-acre spread outside
Boulder, Colorado – a studio/home big enough to hold
a 70-piece orchestra named Mochi (rice cake) House. Kitaro
also maintains a home in his homeland where he returns each
year (August-full moon) to perform his Taiko drum marathon,
from sunset to sunrise, at the base of Mt. Fuji. (Excerpts
from Domo Records and Best of Kitaro Vol. 2 album jacket
cover.)
Living at the foot of Mt. Fuji in a house
surrounded by woodlands, Kitaro creates his music with the
freedom and intensity of a child at play. The synthesizer,
which he learned in Europe, enables him to work alone in
his studio, inventing sound that reflects his years of travels
and contemplation. Harmony springs from his contradictions:
sounds from hundred-year old stringed instruments weave
through his synthesizer imaginings. The cultures and instruments
of Japan, India, China and Europe join and are embraced
in his music.
Throughout Asia, his concerts are major
events. Millions come to see Kitaro perform his magic, and
he has played to concert audiences of more than 50,000 in
Japan, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and elsewhere. (Excerpts
the 1985 LP album cover)
THE MESSENGER
One came upon him not too late
Just in time to meditate.
Immersed in angelic harmonies
Of the spheres.
Realizing this Heaven and Earth
Must be shared
With the souls of spiritual children everywhere.
Charles E. Guffey 1998
For those who have followed Kitaro’s
work from his early days, I feel envy. For some of you are
aware of the pervading simple theme that encompasses all
aspects of his connate awareness expressed musically, without
words, leaving room for individual interpretations…
and most importantly, personal growth.
And for those who have recently discovered
Kitaro, the following messages will allow for personal interpretations
without creating additional muddy water to wade through,
coming to your own conclusions, if any. However, each album
is described in summary pointing to the album theme.
You could find that he is consistent and
persistent in relaying an enlightened message whether from
album jacket covers, record titles, or Kitaro’s poems,
but most importantly from his music. There is no width,
depth or length to Kitaro’s music it just there, comparable
to the Universe, resembling each one of us. “With no
beginning and with no end.” There is neither a Mysterious
Island nor shadows if one wishes to see.
As Benjamin Franklin stated in Poor Richards
Almanac, “Well done is better than well said.”
This statement simply defines the results of Kitaro’s
wordless musical ability and the (magic) positive affects
it has on people’s lives from all walks of life, as
hosts on this Planet from beyond creation we call home.
There are no metaphors like word-forms or labels to describe
or define Kitaro or the music he produces.
“Whatever joy there is in this world
all comes from desiring others to be happy, and whatever
suffering there is in this world all comes from desiring
myself to be happy.” (Shantideva. Buddhist Monk at
Nalanda University in the 7th/8th century) And Kitaro’s
Japanese nickname translates to “A much happy man.”
Klaus Schultz, originator of the German
musical group Tangerine Dream and early teacher for Kitaro
on keyboards said, “… Music to me is the background
to a mental picture, but the listener must make the exact
interpretation, hence the music is only half composed and
the listener himself should attack the composition to gain
a mental repercussion… Some people don’t invest
effort into things if no material profit is to be had, unaware
of the mental joys.”
Again, welcome to the site dedicated exclusively
as an independent source to providing, as complete as possible,
Kitaro’s entire thirty year musical career collection
available in CD, Cassette, VHS, DVD, VCD and LP series.
Also, the information contained herein
will be more than adequate to fill any individual thirst
for information about Kitaro and his or her quest for his
discography releases.
Kitaro Music© will refrain from
the frenzy of relaying media or fan information and/or misinformation,
interpretations and reviews of Kitaro, or discography ratings
of his albums beyond the printed word from Kitaro’s
record publishing companies…Thinking of You.
Currently, Kitaro's Musical Assembly
Includes:
Digitally remastered compilations of hard to find older
works
Golden Globe Award HEAVEN & EARTH movie soundtrack
Award winning movie soundtrack THE SOONG SISTERS video
New documentary sound track release of AN ANCIENT JOURNEY
Plus the new VHS or DVD release of TAMAYURA
