Respighi, New Koto Ensemble Of Tokyo, Shō Fukumori - Koto Respighi 琴

Review by Marc Griffon

Koto Respighi 琴: A Wild Ride Through Neo-Classical Vibes Alright, let’s cut to the chase. This 1981 gem from Angel Records is not your grandma's classical album—well, unless she was really into koto-infused reinterpretations of Respighi’s works. Yeah, you heard me right. Koto and Respighi? In the same sentence? It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does. Kinda like peanut butter on a burger—it sounds insane until you try it. First off, props to Shō Fukumori for conducting this wild experiment with the New Koto Ensemble Of Tokyo. The whole thing feels like someone took Respighi’s original scores, threw them in a blender with Japanese traditional instruments, and hit "puree." And honestly? I’m here for it. Now, let’s talk tracks. You gotta start with “The Birds (Gli Uccelli)” because damn, this one slaps. Nanae Yoshimura absolutely shreds on the koto during the cuckoo section—it’s playful, sharp, and just chaotic enough to make you wonder if birds actually do have beef with each other. There’s something about the plucking that makes you feel like you're standing in some ancient forest where all these feathered jerks are flexing their vocal cords at each other. That track sticks with you. Like, you’ll hear bird noises outside later and think, “Wait…is thatRespighi?” Then there’s “Ancient Airs And Dances For Lute – Suite No. 2.” This one’s smoother, more refined, but don’t get too comfy—it still sneaks up on you. The transitions between movements hit different when they’re played on a koto instead of a lute. It’s got this eerie vibe, almost like you're walking through a museum late at night and all the paintings are judging you. Hitoshi Matsubara’s engineering deserves mad respect here; the sound quality is crisp as hell for 1981. Every note lands perfectly without feeling overproduced. Real talk, though, by the end of this suite, you might find yourself questioning whether Respighi was secretly channeling samurai spirits or something. Who knows? Look, I won’t lie—the album isn’t perfect. Some parts drag a bit, and yeah, maybe the concept is kinda niche. But that’s what makes it memorable. It doesn’t play it safe. It takes risks, and most of the time, those risks pay off big time. Here’s the kicker: listening to Koto Respighi 琴 feels less like sitting in a concert hall and more like stumbling into an underground art show where everyone’s whispering, “This is gonna change everything.” Does it live up to the hype? Mostly. Will it leave you thinking about koto music way harder than you ever thought possible? Absolutely. And hey, isn’t that what great art’s supposed to do? Mess with your brain a little? Or maybe it’s just me. Either way, crank this sucker up and prepare to have your mind blown—or at least mildly rearranged.

Download Respighi, New Koto Ensemble Of Tokyo, Shō Fukumori - Koto Respighi 琴

Artist: Respighi, New Koto Ensemble Of Tokyo, Shō Fukumori
Album: Koto Respighi 琴

Classical

Neo-Classical

1981

Rating: 3.5

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Interesting fact
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Filename: respighi-new-koto-ensemble-of-tokyo-sh-fukumori-koto-respighi.zip

MP3 size: 85.8 mb
FLAC size: 630.3 mb

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Tracks

Track	Duration	Preview
Bergamasca	5:49
Laura Soave	4:00
Ancient Airs And Dances For Lute – Suite No. 2	(18:14)
The Nightingale	4:40
The Cuckoo	4:38
The Hen	3:18
Danza Rustica	3:27
Campanae Parisienses & Aria	4:58
The Birds (Gli Uccelli)	(20:24)
The Dove	4:50
Prelude	2:58

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Catalog Numbers

SZ-37830

Labels

Angel Records

Listen online

online anhören
lyssna på nätet
écouter en ligne
online luisteren
ouvir online
lytte på nettet
kuunnella verkossa
escuchar en línea
ascolta in linea

Formats

Vinyl
LP

Companies

Role	Company
Manufactured By	Capitol Records, Inc.
Phonographic Copyright (p)	Toshiba EMI Ltd
Copyright (c)	Capitol Records, Inc.
Pressed By	Wakefield Manufacturing
Mastered At	Capitol Mastering

Credits

Role	Credit
Art Direction	Masamichi Oshiyama
Conductor	Shō Fukumori
Editor	James Durant
Engineer	Hitoshi Matsubara
Ensemble	New Koto Ensemble Of Tokyo
Executive-Producer	Hideo Yoshida
Illustration	Jin'ichirō Satō
Koto	Nanae Yoshimura
Producer	H. Okano, Teiichi Hori
Supervised By	Yuji Hashimoto
Transcription By	H. Okano

Notes

Recorded in Japan
Printed in U.S.A.
℗ 1981 Toshiba-EMI Limited
Library of Congress Catalogue Card No. 81-750120 applies to this recording.
Further track information:
A1: after Pasquini
A2: after De Gallot
A3: after Rameau
A4: after anon. Engl.
A5: after Pasquini
B1: after Caroso
B2: after Besardo
B3: after anon. & after Mersenne
B4: after Gianoncelli

Barcodes

Matrix / Runout (Label side A): S-1-37830
Matrix / Runout (Label side B): S-2-37830
Matrix / Runout (Runout side A): #4 [Wakefield Manufacturing W over M logo] 38593-A S-1-37830 G2 MASTERED BY CAPITOL
Matrix / Runout (Runout side B): #3 [Wakefield Manufacturing W over M logo] 38593 B S-2-37830 G1 MASTERED BY CAPITOL
Other (Library of Congress Catalogue Card No.): 81-750120

About Respighi, New Koto Ensemble Of Tokyo, Shō Fukumori

Ottorino Respighi (born in Bologna, July 9, 1879 - died in Rome, April 18, 1936), was an Italian composer, musicologist and violinist. He is perhaps best known for his Roman trilogy and the three suites of Ancient Airs and Dances.

Name Vars

C. Respighi
O. Respighi
O. Respigi
O. Respigis
O.Respighi
Otorino Respigi
Ottarino Respighi
Ottorine Respighi
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
Ottorino Respihi
Ottorio Respighi
Resphighi
Resphigi
Respigh
Respighi
Respighni
Respight
Respigi
Respigihi
Respigni
О. Peспиги
О. Респиги
О.Респиги
От. Респиги
Оторино Респиги
Отторино Респиги
Отторино Респиньи
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Interesting fact about Album

Here’s an interesting fact: The album *Koto Respighi 琴* blends traditional Japanese koto music with Western neo-classical compositions by Ottorino Respighi. Released in 1981, it features the New Koto Ensemble of Tokyo and was produced under Angel Records. What makes it unique is how it reimagines Respighi's works, like *The Birds* and *Ancient Airs and Dances*, through the delicate tones of the koto, played masterfully by Nanae Yoshimura. This fusion bridges two distinct musical worlds—East and West—creating a sound that feels both timeless and innovative. Plus, the stunning artwork by Jin'ichirō Satō adds a visual layer to this cross-cultural masterpiece.