Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site noscvax.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxt!houxm!whuxl!whuxlm!harpo!decvax!ittvax!dcdwest!sdcsvax!noscvax!jim
From: jim@noscvax.UUCP (James A. Zaun)
Newsgroups: net.music
Subject: Re: Kitaro Recommendations?
Message-ID: <853@noscvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Mar-85 02:38:05 EST
Article-I.D.: noscvax.853
Posted: Tue Mar 26 02:38:05 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 28-Mar-85 00:46:56 EST
References: <349@ptsfc.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Naval Ocean Systems Center, San Diego
Lines: 47

Rod, I was unable to respond by direct mail (problems with truncated
paths), so I'm posting this to the net.  My response to your question
turned out to be longer than expected:

    [from Rod Williams, Pacific Bell, San Francisco]
    I've listened to a friend's copy of "Silk Road" and like it very
    much. Now I'd like to get some Kitaro for myself, preferably on CD.
    If you have a favorite album, please let me know by mail.  I'll sum-
    marize responses to the net, if there seems to be sufficient in-
    terest.  Thanx!

Kitaro has been incredibly prolific; 23 albums so far!  Kitaro's "Silk
Road I & II" and "Tanhuang" are good.  All three are on CD.  Haven't
listened to "Ten-Jiku" yet. The "Ki" and "Oasis" (c1979) albums are less
satisfying to me.  Some parts are good; others are so-so.  "Ki" is a
little better than "Oasis".  "Kitaro in Person (digital)" (c1980) is a
kind of Kitaro's greatest hits.  I understand a "Best of Kitaro" album
will be released later this year.  My all time Kitaro favorite is the
"Silk Road Suite" performed by the London Symphony Orchestra.  Same
selections as on the "Silk Roads" but with the richness of a full size
symphony orchestra.  It's a double album, not available on CD.  I've
heard that the less expensive German pressing sounds as good as the ori-
ginal Japanese, but comes without the overpriced box and booklet.

Actually, I prefer the Japanese composer Stomu Yamashta over Kitaro.
His lastest album "Sea and Sky" (c1984) is a beautifully romantic work
with a spectacular final crescendo.  The richness of a symphonic orches-
tra combined with synthesizer and percussion only add to the passion of
this expansive work.  Highly recommended. It's also available on CD.
Some of his earlier efforts ("Iroha-Ka" sp?) are good too, but those
recordings (LP only) are difficult to find.

Also, check out Vangelis' "Soil Festivities" (c1984) and "Antarctica"
(c1980). Both albums have the colossal power and sonic majesty of
Vangelis; and both are on CD. Stay away from his lastest creation "In-
visible Connections" (c1985) unless you like the prepared piano abstrac-
tions of John Cage.  The styles are similar.  Recordings by Tangerine
Dream, Jean-Michel Jarre (but not Maurice Jarre), Synchestra and Mark
Isham are also recommended.

If you like the "space" music of these composers, you should listen to
"Hearts of Space" broadcast on many public radio stations. The program is
produced by Stephen Hill and Anna Turner at Celestial Sound in San Fran-
cisco.  (I have a listing of all the "H of S" affiliate stations, but I won't
post that here. This message is already too long as it is.)

Happy listening.  -jim zaun (NOSC, San Diego)