MATSUTOYO KAI

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Minyo 民謡.. 日本民謡は代々人から人へ受け継がれてきた音楽。日本は海と山に囲まれた自然豊かな国であることから、漁場や農業での作業歌が日本民謡の中心となっている。いわば生活の声として生まれ伝承されてきた音楽であり、多くの唄の中に豊作や豊漁を願う歌詞が折り込まれ、四季折々の節日、新築や婚礼等の祝儀の唄や祈りの唄など、南から北へと細長い日本国土のそれぞれの土地の豊かな地方性や風土の様子が表現されている。 日本民謡とは先祖代々歌うことを通じて伝えられてきた民族の“心”であるといえるであろう。..

Matsutoyo Kai まつとよ会とは,１９６６年佐藤松豊（さとうまつとよ）氏により北カリフォルニアにて創立。日本の歴史をともなう貴重な"美"を途絶えることなく人々に伝えることを主目的とし、４０年以上日本民謡の普及に努め続け現在にいたる。南カリフォルニアに拠点を移動してからもアメリカ全土に視点を当て、松豊氏による出張稽古を含む教授活動やメンバーによる公演活動が様々な場所で行われている。

Minyo Station- est. 2008 民謡Station.. 佐藤松豊 Senseiの「日本民謡を全ての世代に楽しんでもらい伝えていきたい」という思いと指導のもとに、まつとよ会の生徒やその仲間たちにより創立された新しい形の民謡楽団。伝統的な日本民謡の歌や形に洋風音楽のアレンジを乗せるなどの工夫でアメリカ人や日本の若い世代にも聞きやすい音楽を創作中。現在はロスアンゼルスを中心にイベントやお祭り、パーティーなどで演奏活動を繰り広げ、人気上昇中。日本民謡のすばらしい“美”と“心”をアメリカ、また日本の人々に伝え残していくことを主目的とし、日々まい進中。..

......http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptBBIJgmtSY...... .. .. .. .... ..

MINYO- Folk songs point to the musical singing passed down for many generations as universal songs. While Japan had been a maritime country, it was also an agricultural country centered on rice farming. In Japan , work songs have been the mainstream of folk songs. Their lyrics often started with a prayer for a good harvest and prosperity. Folk songs have breathed in the lives of people in a free environment, with no need for special protection for a long time. Even in a narrow country such as Japan , from ancient times people have passed on many songs that were cherished in their local land and climate. The prayers of a true heart and old emotions have thus survived. Folk songs are a form of "encyclopedia" for understanding Japan , and one can think that singing folk songs contributes to bringing up Japanese people from childhood... MATSUTOYO KAI- Our group, Matsutoyo Kai, was established in Northern California by Matsutoyo Sato in 1966 shortly after she arrived from Japan. For ten years Matsutoyo Kai was based in the San Francisco Bay Area. In 1976 Matsutoyo Sato moved to the Los Angeles area extending the reach of Matsutoyo Kai to the Southern California area, where it is now based. In 2006 Matsutoyo Kai became a nonprofit organization. Theprimary objective and purpose of Matsutoyo Kai shall be to pass on the Traditional Music of Japan and to create and leave a Japanese music Legacy. Part of that purpose is to provide instruction in singing, shamisen, taiko, and kane (bell) and to givepublic performances in Japanese Folk and Classical Music. With Matsutoyo Sato as Artistic Director we will continue to expand Matsutoyo Kai, keeping this rare "Art" of Japanese History alive..

MINYO STATION Est. 2008 - 風 の 行 方 ‘The Direction of the Wind’ - ‘The Direction of the Wind’ Indicates the New Sound of Fusion Minyo- Japanese Folk Music- that is Created by the New Generation. Like, the Sound has been Blown from the East to the Rest, Instead of West! These members also carry the passion towards Music and we were given the opportunity by Matsutoyo Sato to share Minyo in a different style while keeping the traditional sounds. ..

It has become our mission, as many respected Minyo Groups in the United States, to embrace Minyo and to continuously move forward so we can learn more about Japan, the Daily Lives of People in the past, and the Beauty of Japan.