Okeanos: Contemporary Japanese Music for Chamber Ensemble

A new ensemble, Okeanos, presents works for sho, koto, sanshin, hichiriki, viola, oboe and clarinet especially composed for them.

Creating a beautiful and delicate sound-world, their programme includes new music recently premiered at the Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival by Dai Fujikura, Howard Skempton and Gabriel Jackson. Newly composed works by Robin Thompson and Shinuh Lee feature alongside music by Toru Takemitsu and Hiroyuki Yamamoto. The concert also includes traditional works for koto and sanshin.

“Brilliant Breeze from the East….Fujikura has succeeded in welding the sounds together into a kind of ‘superinstrument’. His aim is to banish what he calls the cliché of ‘East meets West crossover’ …and he succeeds brilliantly.”
– Ivan Hewitt, The Daily Telegraph

“…there was still time to pack in another three world premieres – attractive works by Howard Skempton and Gabriel Jackson, and the fleeting Touch of Breeze by the young Dai Fujikura, whose Okeanos Breeze closed the concert…a compelling and original finale…”
– Edward Bhesania, The Observer

Melissa Holding:  koto
Robin Thompson:  sho, sanshin & voice
Kate Romano: clarinet & rin
Bridget Carey: viola
Jinny Shaw: oboe