Bunraku

"Bunraku"

"What kind of music do you like?"
-"Good music!"

It's a big part of my life, music is. Memorable concerts have been held here at The Speakeasy,
rhythm and blues, soul, and gypsy jazz are the genres that generally get top billing.  Today I'd like to shine the light on one of the few other memorable guests I've had visit over the years.  I've had the pleasure of enjoying some amazing music in what you would call an intimate setting. Years ago, when Hugh was still in elementary school and living at home, we were honored to have Tsuyoshi Onaga, an award winning opera singer from Okinawa, visit and sing an aria in the living room.  I remember it as though it was yesterday.

The most recent visit by a surprise musical guest was this past summer. Pictured above is Julia playing her cello. Julia was spending the summer in and around Kanazawa studying Japanese and playing the cello before heading back to Oberlin for the fall semester.  I had the pleasure of her company on a rainy weekend at the end of June.  Three of us made up her audience, and we were captivated by her selection,  "Bunraku".  Pizzicato had a major role in representing what one would normally associate with shamisen music at a traditional Bunraku puppet theatre, but the bow was no less dramatic in its portrayal of the puppet theatre world.  Thank you Julia for the opportunity to travel back in time to the day I spent at the National Bunraku Theatre so many years ago.
Best wishes at Oberlin and beyond!