Profile

Etsuko Takezawa
Koto, 17-string bass koto, jiuta shamisen, sho

Born in Ishikawa-ken in 1963. Studied koto under maestros Tadao Sawai, Kazue Sawai
and Takeshi Nakai. Studied music theory and traditional Japanese
instruments at Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music.

1986
Formed Koto group "Donguri". Overseas performances as Sawai Ensemble are as
follows: World tour: 11 cities in Indonesia, Thailand, Germany, Italy and
England (1987); participated in Bang On A Can festival (1984 -1988);
concerts in Vienna, Moscow and Ukraine (1991); Moers Jazz Festival, Germany
(1992); Latvia and Estonia (1992); Paris (1993).

1987
Received Ministry of Cultural Affairs Award for Artistic Excellence for
"The World of Koto - The Sawai Tadao Koto Ensemble". Toured in England with
the Sawai Koto Ensemble, including performances at the Glasgow Festival
(with the Scottish National Orchestra) and The Free Trade Hall (Manchester).

1989
Performed Gagaku and Shomyo (Buddhism Chant), works by Maki Ishi and Toshi
Ichiyanagi using restored Japanese ancient instruments at the National
Theatre, Tokyo.

1990-2
Performed at "La Mama" New York, including works by John Zorn. USA tour
with composer Toshi Ichiyanagi. Performed "Three Dances" by John Cage in
the presence of the composer. Recorded "Three Dances" for CD "Three
pieces", by Kazue Sawai. Duo recital series with Yoko Nishi at Shinjuku
Bipuran theatre

1993-4
Formed koto quartet Koto Vortex, with Yoko Nishi, Michiyo Yagi and Miki
Maruta. Released album "Koto Vortex 1." Released album "Yuh" with Fumio
Itabashi.

1995
With Koto Vortex, performed new works and arrangements by Moondog,
Yoshihide Otomo, Kevin Volans and Elliott Sharp.

1995
Collaborated with Phil Minton (voice) at Tokyo Museum of Modern Art (MOMA).
Released album "Koto Vortex 2 - Arcadia." Performed with avant-garde
bassist Joelle Leandre in Tokyo. Performed works by Lou Harrison, Harry
Partch, and Terry Riley at Setagaya Art Museum, Tokyo. Performed at the
Thailand Jazz Festival. Toured in Europe (Paris, Rome and Cologne) with
jazz pianist Fumio Itabashi. Started solo live series "Koto Monologue" and
performed in Rinsen Buddhism Temple, Nanao Arts Centre, the Japan
Foundation Centre and many others.

1997
Toured in Thailand, supported by the Japan Foundation.


1998
Performed at the "Japan Year in France" festival (Paris). Released CD "Five
Umui", featuring works by Kazuo Yoshikawa. Supervised music for a
theatrical work by Johann Nestroy, produced by Ulrike Ottinger, for
Steirischer Herbst 99 (Austria). Recorded sound track of the film "Kujaku",
directed by Christophe Doyle

2000
Toured 7 cities in the USA as a member of Contemporary Sankyoku Ensemble,
supported by the Japan Foundation. With Koto Vortex, appeared on the
international compilation album "Miniatures 2 - a sequence of sixty tiny
masterpieces", produced by Morgan Fisher.

2001
Recorded sound track for Sony Playstation software "Oni-musha" which sold
over 10 million copies all over the world.

Academic activities:
Etsuko Takezawa lectures at Fukushima University and the music department
of Joetsu Education University.