- Kazue Sawai
is a Japanese "koto" player noted for her performance of
contemporary classical music andfree improvisation .She began studying, at the age of eight, with
Michio Miyagi . She later graduated from theTokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music .She plays both the 13-string and 17-string kotos. As a soloist, as well as with her koto ensemble, she has performed and worked with
John Cage ,Toshi Ichiyanagi ,Yuji Takahashi ,Sofia Gubaidulina ,David Behrman ,Carl Stone , and many other composers. She has performed in Japan, North America, and Europe.She was married to the late
Tadao Sawai , who was also a "koto" player and composer. The couple had a sonHikaru Sawai (b. 1964), who is also a "koto" player and composer.She operates a school in Japan, where she teaches both Japanese and foreign students. Her students include
Michio Yagi ,Elizabeth Falconer ,Shoko Hikage , andMei Han .References
External links
* [http://www.soukyokuin.com/ Kazue Sawai official site]
* [http://www.komuso.com/people/Sawai_Kazue.html Kazue Sawai page]
* [http://www.kotoworld.com/article_sawaikazue.html Article about Kazue Sawai by Elizabeth Falconer]
* [http://www.musicsharing.jp/e_artist.html Kazue Sawai biography]
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