Japanese Music Life

One of the joyful challenges we've encountered over the years has been making arrangements of familiar melodies on our instruments. The challenge of it is tomake compelling, artistic arrangements that keep the integrity of the piece yet offer something new. We have quite a few we've given up on, after working on them for a bit. But one of our favorites - and a favorite of Duo En's audiences has been our arrangement and combining of the two pieces, "Amazing Grace" and "Swing Log Sweet Chariot." Those melodies - so simple - are wonderful for the koto and bamboo flute.

A short video of our arrangement was uploaded at youtube by our son Brian, and can be seen at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDVM04rCuwM

Comments are welcome!