Yumi Kurosawa Performs "Lucky Stars" on the Koto
Clip: Season 51 Episode 17 | 3m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
Koto player Yumi Kurosawa performs her piece "Lucky Stars."
Koto player Yumi Kurosawa and violinist Scott Yoo perform her piece "Lucky Stars"
Major series funding for GREAT PERFORMANCES is provided by The Joseph & Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Sue...
Yumi Kurosawa Performs "Lucky Stars" on the Koto
Clip: Season 51 Episode 17 | 3m 14sVideo has Closed Captions
Koto player Yumi Kurosawa and violinist Scott Yoo perform her piece "Lucky Stars"
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship♪♪ That really sounds like Japan.
Yes, because the scale, one of the most important players and composers in koto history, Kengyô Yatsuhashi, invented Hirajoshi tuning, which is this one.
♪♪ Hold on.
Do that a little slower?
Yeah.
♪♪ Okay.
So that is... ♪♪ Yes, you got it.
And how many strings is this?
This is 13 strings.
- 13.
And this is actually 21 string koto.
- Wow.
I want to show you some scales on the koto.
So this is diatonic scale.
And let's see, C major.
And if I want to change to D major, either I bend strings... ♪♪ Or move bridges.
♪♪ The same thing.
So you're bending the pitch by pulling the string?
Yeah.
This does not feel like a gut.
This feels like some kind of a synthetic.
Yeah.
This is a nylon string.
They weren't always made out of nylon.
That used to be silk, but it's way too delicate, especially for contemporary music.
Speaking of modern, you know, you sent me your piece for violin and koto.
- Mm hmm.
You want to give that a try?
I've been practicing it.
Sure.
Yeah.
I'm so honored.
- Let's do it.
♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪ ♪♪
Now Hear This "The Composer is Yoo" Preview
Video has Closed Captions
Follow host Scott Yoo’s journey to compose a piece of music for the first time. (30s)
Scott Yoo Meets With Augusta Read Thomas About Composing
Video has Closed Captions
Scott Yoo meets with composer Augusta Read Thomas to get out of a creative rut. (4m 25s)
Providing Support for PBS.org
Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorshipMajor series funding for GREAT PERFORMANCES is provided by The Joseph & Robert Cornell Memorial Foundation, the Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Arts Fund, the LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Sue...