Daily-ist: Wednesday

Hogaku: New Sounds of Japan

Two musical groups who use their classical training in traditional Japanese music styles to push the boundaries of experimental music will perform tonight as part of Hogaku: New Sounds of Japan at the Houston Museum of Fine Arts.

"Hogaku" is a style of early 19th-century Japanese traditional music

The 4-member ensemble Fuji-Zakura, led by Harumi Mochizuki, perform with a small floor drum, a large hand drum, a small hand drum and a flute in a style known as four rhythm, percussive music originally performed to accompany Noh and Kabuki theater.

The duo Passion of Asia, with Tetsuro Kawashima on tenor and soprano saxophone and flute and Etsuko Takezawa on zither, creates original sounds blending jazz and hogaku through versatile improvisation.

The evening will begin with a lecture and demonstration by Takafumi Tanaka, editor of the Hogaku Journal. The performance is being sponsored by the Japan Foundation, Asia Society Texas Center, the Museum of Fine Arts Houston, and the Consulate-General of Japan.

Hogaku: New Sounds of Japan
Admission: FREE!
Date and Time:Tonight: doors at 6:30 p.m., lecture at 7 p.m., concert at 8 p.m.
Location: Brown Auditorium, Houston Museum of Fine Arts

Photo: Etsuko Takezawa of Passion of Asia