Recorded in the Miho Museum, one of Japan’s iconic buildings, designed by I.M. Pei and hidden mostly under the Shigaraki Mountains near Kyoto. Intertwining with taiko drums, bansuri flute, sarangi fiddle and Paul Winter’s clear sax are the birdcalls, waterfalls, and bells of the Miho. All serve to form a shifting, meditative image of paradise found and reflected in the glass and steel of a great architect, in the warp and clay of ancient artisans.

Inspired by the legend of Shangri-La, world-renowned American architect I.M. Pei came out of retirement to design the Miho Museum, reached by a soundproofed tunnel meant to clear the mind and then by a graceful suspension bridge over a stunning gorge. It echoes the journey from a famous tale of a fisherman, following a river farther into the mountains than he ever had before, only to come through a tunnel-like cavern into the ravishing valley of Shangri-La, filled with blooming peach trees.

The Consort includes Paul Winter, soprano sax; Arto Tuncboyaciyan , vocals and sazabo; Paul McCandless, woodwinds; Steve Gorn, bansuri; Eugene Friesen, cello; Glen Velez, percussion; Don Grusin, keyboard; Dhruba Ghosh, sarangi; Yukiko Matsuyama, koto; the Shumei Taiko Ensemble; Yangjin Lamu, voice; Tim Brumfield, organ; Café, percussion; Jordan Rudess, keyboard; Eriko Koide, carillon; The Shumei Chorus, conducted by Hiroko Matsui.

Living Music