There is a reason that music is called the universal language.
You don’t need to be a native of a certain area of the world or
knowledgeable about their culture to know good music when you hear
it. Spoken language and customs all are put aside for a few short
minutes while the melodies float through the air.
This is kind of the feeling I get when I listen to
Picture Dreams, a disc of shakuhachi and koto duets by Riley
Lee and Satsuki Odamura. You don’t need to know just what a
shakuhachi is (it’s a kind of bamboo flute) or how to play a koto.
You don’t even need to know anything about Japanese history or
customs. You just have to know great music when you hear it — and,
frankly, this is some of the most beautiful music I’ve heard in a
long time.
The seven pieces featured on
Picture Dreams are either meant to musically tell a story or
to paint a picture in the listener’s mind. What I’ve found from my
exposure to this disc is that the interplay between the two
instruments creates a very relaxing atmosphere, and dares the
listener to become introspective on whatever topic they choose. In
this manner, Lee and Odamura are able to transcend any boundaries
between their music and the listener, creating a picture which
anyone can view in their own manner and enjoy.
Admittedly, it sometimes feels like the musical ideas that the
two work off of might threaten to stall out at times, such as on
“Tuning In D.” But the listener must be willing to show patience,
especially for those unfamiliar to this form of music; in due time,
the pieces fall back into line.
American-born Lee’s work on the shakuhachi demonstrates just why
he is considered to be a master of this instrument; his playing
carries enough power while maintaining a gentle edge to it, as
heard on “Sacramental Christian Lullaby” and “The Dream Of The
Dayflower.” Odamura’s koto work is phenomenal; anyone who believes
the koto’s range is limited need only hear her performances on this
disc.
Any time I need to take a break from the real world and just
collect my thoughts in a darkened room, away from computers, my
family and whatnot, there are a few discs I listen to repeatedly to
clear the mental cobwebs.
Picture Dreams has most definitely earned a spot in that
rotation, and will be getting a lot more attention from me. This
demonstrates the kind of music which makes me want to learn more
about music from other corners of the world.
