was born in Sri Lanka, and came to Wales to convalesce during World War II. After the War he moved to Llanelen (a few miles North of Goytre Wharf) where he did most of the research for Rape of the Fair Country, before moving to Holywell Road in Abergavenny, his home for many years. 
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY
DIFFERENT
DIFFERENT
THIS WONDERFUL MUSIC IS FROM A GENTLEMAN CALLED
MASANORI TAKEIHASHI BORN ON FEBRUARY 4TH 1953
BUT BETTER KNOWN AS "KITARO" THE MUSIC ~ MATSURI (LIVE)
KOJIKI: A STORY IN CONCERT, 1997.
MASANORI TAKEIHASHI BORN ON FEBRUARY 4TH 1953
BUT BETTER KNOWN AS "KITARO" THE MUSIC ~ MATSURI (LIVE)
KOJIKI: A STORY IN CONCERT, 1997.
ABOUT THE MAN
Kitaro moved to Tokyo to experience and become a part of the music
scene, and it was there that he discovered the synthesizer. His first
synthesizer was analogue, and recalls he “just loved the analogue sound
that it made compared to today's digital sound”.
scene, and it was there that he discovered the synthesizer. His first
synthesizer was analogue, and recalls he “just loved the analogue sound
that it made compared to today's digital sound”.
His parents were first opposed to the idea of their son having a
musical career. Indeed, in an effort to manoeuvre him towards their
vision, they made arrangements for him to take a job at a local
company. In return, he left home without telling them.
He supported himself by taking on several part time jobs such as
cooking or civil service work, meanwhile composing songs at night.
musical career. Indeed, in an effort to manoeuvre him towards their
vision, they made arrangements for him to take a job at a local
company. In return, he left home without telling them.
He supported himself by taking on several part time jobs such as
cooking or civil service work, meanwhile composing songs at night.
Back in Japan, Kitaro started his solo career in 1977.
The first two albums Ten Kai and From the Full Moon Story New Age movement.
He performed his first symphonic concert at the 'Small Hall' of the Kosei Nenkin Kaikan
in Shinjuku, Tokyo. During this concert Kitaro used a synthesizer to
recreate the sounds of 40 different instruments, a world's first. But
it was his famous soundtrack for the NHK series "Silk Road" that brought him international attention. became cult favorites of fans of the nascent
The first two albums Ten Kai and From the Full Moon Story New Age movement.
He performed his first symphonic concert at the 'Small Hall' of the Kosei Nenkin Kaikan
in Shinjuku, Tokyo. During this concert Kitaro used a synthesizer to
recreate the sounds of 40 different instruments, a world's first. But
it was his famous soundtrack for the NHK series "Silk Road" that brought him international attention. became cult favorites of fans of the nascent
He struck a worldwide distribution arrangement with Geffen Records
in 1986. This included a re-releasing of five prior albums --
Astral Voyage, Full Moon Story, Millennia, India, and
Asia, each handsomely packaged with Japanesque obi strips --
and a new album, the aptly titled, Toward the West. In 1987 he
collaborated with different musicians, e.g. with
Micky Hart (Grateful Dead) and Jon Anderson (Yes).
In 1988 his record sales soared to 10 million
worldwide. He was nominated twice for a Grammy award and his
soundtrack for the movie "Heaven & Earth" won
the award for best original score.
in 1986. This included a re-releasing of five prior albums --
Astral Voyage, Full Moon Story, Millennia, India, and
Asia, each handsomely packaged with Japanesque obi strips --
and a new album, the aptly titled, Toward the West. In 1987 he
collaborated with different musicians, e.g. with
Micky Hart (Grateful Dead) and Jon Anderson (Yes).
In 1988 his record sales soared to 10 million
worldwide. He was nominated twice for a Grammy award and his
soundtrack for the movie "Heaven & Earth" won
the award for best original score.
When asked about his music, he said, "I never had education in
music, I just learned to trust my ears and my feelings." He credits
‘powers beyond himself’ for his music, saying,
"This music is not from my mind. It is from heaven, going through my body
and out my fingers through composing. Sometimes I wonder. I never
practice. I don't read or write music, but my fingers move. I wonder,
'Whose song is this?' I write my songs, but they are not my songs."
Since his 1995 début for Domo Records—the Grammy-nominated Mandala,
featuring bold use of electric guitar—
Kitaro has released no less than thirteen albums. Among them,
the live An Enchanted Evening (1995), the deeply spiritual Gaia Onbashira (1998) and
Ancient (2001), were all Grammy nominated.
The 2000 Thinking Of You, which allmusic.com calls a “journey to ecstasy” and “one of the most beautiful CDs of all time,”[citation needed] won the Grammy for Best New Age
Album.
Kitaro’s music has long been recognised for its messages of peace
and spirituality. In the wake of September 11, the artist began
recording Sacred Journey Of Ku-kai, an intended series of
peace-themed albums (Vol. 1 released in 2003; Vol. 2 in 2005, vol.3 in
2007), inspired by the classic Buddhist pilgrimage to the 88 sacred temples on Japan’s Shikoku Island, a journey taken by the famous Buddhist monk Kūkai
over a millennium ago.
In 2007, Kitaro has composed the music for West Lake Impression,
a large-scale opera, directed by renowned Chinese film director Zhang
Yimou. The opera reflects the city’s history and culture through music
and dance. Using modern technology, the stage is 75 centimetres below
the lake’s surface during the day so as not to affect the landscape and
boating activities. In the evening, the stage is 75 centimetres below
the lake’s surface.[citation needed]
The two-hour event had its opening night in March 2007.
In 2007-2009 he launched the ‘Love and Peace World Tour,’ an
international tour with which Kitaro hoped to inspire his message of
world peace with his music. Kitaro toured Southeast Asia in 2007, and
Greece in 2008. During his visit to Greece, Kitaro met Greek musician
and composer Vangelis, and exchanged musical experience and creative ideas.
Kitaro has also reunited with drummer Mickey Hart.
From 1983 until 1990 Kitaro was married to Yuki Taoka. Yuki
is a daughter of Kazuo Taoka, godfather of Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest Yakuza
syndicate. Kitaro and Yuki had a son, Ryunosuke, who lives in Japan.
They reportedly separated because Kitaro worked mostly in the United
States while Yuki lived and worked in Japan. In the mid-nineties,
Kitaro married Keiko Matsubara, a musician who played on several of his
albums. Along with Keiko's son, the couple lived in Ward, Colorado
on a 180 acre (730,000 m²) spread and composed in his 2500 square foot
(230 m²) home studio "Mochi House" (it is large enough to hold a 70
piece orchestra). Kitaro and Keiko recently relocated to Sebastopol, California.
In 1989, he wrote the "Japanese" Theme for the film "Return From The
River Kwai".
He has worked with guitarist Marty Friedman, formerly of Megadeth, on the
"Scenes" album. He has also worked with Hong Kong
Cantopop singer Anita Mui on the song "Years Flowing Like Water" "似水流年".
music, I just learned to trust my ears and my feelings." He credits
‘powers beyond himself’ for his music, saying,
"This music is not from my mind. It is from heaven, going through my body
and out my fingers through composing. Sometimes I wonder. I never
practice. I don't read or write music, but my fingers move. I wonder,
'Whose song is this?' I write my songs, but they are not my songs."
Since his 1995 début for Domo Records—the Grammy-nominated Mandala,
featuring bold use of electric guitar—
Kitaro has released no less than thirteen albums. Among them,
the live An Enchanted Evening (1995), the deeply spiritual Gaia Onbashira (1998) and
Ancient (2001), were all Grammy nominated.
The 2000 Thinking Of You, which allmusic.com calls a “journey to ecstasy” and “one of the most beautiful CDs of all time,”[citation needed] won the Grammy for Best New Age
Album.
Kitaro’s music has long been recognised for its messages of peace
and spirituality. In the wake of September 11, the artist began
recording Sacred Journey Of Ku-kai, an intended series of
peace-themed albums (Vol. 1 released in 2003; Vol. 2 in 2005, vol.3 in
2007), inspired by the classic Buddhist pilgrimage to the 88 sacred temples on Japan’s Shikoku Island, a journey taken by the famous Buddhist monk Kūkai
over a millennium ago.
In 2007, Kitaro has composed the music for West Lake Impression,
a large-scale opera, directed by renowned Chinese film director Zhang
Yimou. The opera reflects the city’s history and culture through music
and dance. Using modern technology, the stage is 75 centimetres below
the lake’s surface during the day so as not to affect the landscape and
boating activities. In the evening, the stage is 75 centimetres below
the lake’s surface.[citation needed]
The two-hour event had its opening night in March 2007.
In 2007-2009 he launched the ‘Love and Peace World Tour,’ an
international tour with which Kitaro hoped to inspire his message of
world peace with his music. Kitaro toured Southeast Asia in 2007, and
Greece in 2008. During his visit to Greece, Kitaro met Greek musician
and composer Vangelis, and exchanged musical experience and creative ideas.
Kitaro has also reunited with drummer Mickey Hart.
From 1983 until 1990 Kitaro was married to Yuki Taoka. Yuki
is a daughter of Kazuo Taoka, godfather of Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest Yakuza
syndicate. Kitaro and Yuki had a son, Ryunosuke, who lives in Japan.
They reportedly separated because Kitaro worked mostly in the United
States while Yuki lived and worked in Japan. In the mid-nineties,
Kitaro married Keiko Matsubara, a musician who played on several of his
albums. Along with Keiko's son, the couple lived in Ward, Colorado
on a 180 acre (730,000 m²) spread and composed in his 2500 square foot
(230 m²) home studio "Mochi House" (it is large enough to hold a 70
piece orchestra). Kitaro and Keiko recently relocated to Sebastopol, California.
In 1989, he wrote the "Japanese" Theme for the film "Return From The
River Kwai".
He has worked with guitarist Marty Friedman, formerly of Megadeth, on the
"Scenes" album. He has also worked with Hong Kong
Cantopop singer Anita Mui on the song "Years Flowing Like Water" "似水流年".
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