History (Sugawara Kuniyoshi):

Renzan appears on the following albums

	Album	Artist
	Masters of Zen - Ugetsufu	Shakuhachi : Sugawara Kuniyoshi Shakuhachi : Tanabe Retsuzan
This work was written for composer Sawai's brother, distinguished shakuhachi player Sanzan Sawai, who passed away at a young age. Tadao Sawai is one of the preeminent Japanese koto players and at the same time the composer of some the greatest works for traditional instruments. However this duet for two shakuhachi, RENZAN, is his only work which does not include koto or shamisen. This is only the second performance of the work composed around 1970. It has disappeared from the list of Sawai's compositions and has become somewhat of a "phantom" work. Even the details surrounding that sole performance have been lost. I received the score some time ago and have been looking for an opportunity to perform it. With the cooperation of the composer that dream has become reality on this CD - Kuniyoshi Sugawara
	Ugetsufu	Shakuhachi : Sugawara Kuniyoshi
"This work was written for composer Sawai's brother, distinguished shakuhachi player Sanzan Sawai, who passed away at a young age. Tadao Sawai is the one of the preeminent Japanese koto players and at the same time the composer of some of the greatest works for traditional instruments. However this duet for two shakuhachi, "Renzan," is his only work which does not include koto or shamisen. Composed around 1970, this is only the second performance of the work. It has disappeared from the list of Sawai's compositions and has become somewhat of a 'phantom' work. Even the details surrounding that sole performance have been lost. I received the score some time ago and have been looking for an opportunity to perform it. With the cooperation of the composer that dream has become reality on this CD." (Kuniyoshi Sugawara) Tadao Sawai was born in Aichi Prefecture in 1937. His father was a shakuhachi performer, and at around the age of 10 Sawai began to study the koto. In 1959 he was chosen by the Japanese national broadcasting company NHK as the best new performer, and from that time forward he began to be active as a performer and composer of contemporary music. In 1960 he graduated from the traditional music department of Tokyo National Music of Fine Arts and Music. He has performed widely throughout Japan and the world and his compositions are among the most widely performed in the koto world.