Kowun-ryusui is a monthly event where individual musicians get together at a certain place. It does not matter what kind of music or instruments they ordinarily play nor does it matter if they have chosen to play an unfamiliar instruments for the night.
Kowun-ryusui is a place where people, who choose to be there at a particular moment, express and play the unique ideas and rules of music that apply at that event. Well, this might sound a little too heavy... But, no need to get that heavy! You'll just find a fun and cheerful music event.
Kowun-ryusui has appeared in many combinations since June 2000 with different players and different instruments for every event.
There is only one meeting and rehearsal on the very day of the show! The music at Kowun-ryusui has never been the same twice.
Even if we tried to duplicate what happens at one of the shows the different combinations of musicians, instruments, venue and date would make the night sound completely different!
You are now beginning to understand the Kowun-ryusui. This is not a "noise gig". This is music. It is scored using a new system of notation that is open to interpretation on the part of the musician.
The parts need to be played sequentially and the changes in tone and timbre throughout a piece can alternate between haunting bells and unusual percussion countered with droning, followed by fresh meadow sounds of childlike glee. How can we make a long expulsive percussion sound? What if we played slightly delayed bells that slowly decayed?? What would happen if we cycled a drone forever???
The rules we share when we play together cause smiles and a feeling of fun.
We are not sure how Kowun-ryusui will develop in the future, but it doesn't matter… As long as we have fun with friends and sounds,it will continue. As long as you enjoy our music, we will continue performing at lives. Play with sound-making-tools, enjoy the tools.
Play with the sound, enjoy the sound. All the sound, can be all the music. Be our sound, be our music. As kowun-ryusui
Tomoyuki Takahashi July 01, 2001
Translated by Peter Trybus and Yoko Yamada
