European American Music Distributors Company is a member of the Schott Music Group

Osamu Kawakami's Great Argus Premiered at Music From Japan's Festival 2025 in NYC

Feb. 27, 2025

On February 21, the gagaku ensemble, Toki No Koe, led by director and sho soloists, Mayumi Miyata, premiered Osamu Kawakami's Great Argus for sho and gagaku ensemble. The performance marked Music From Japan's 50th Anniversary (1975-2025). Of Great Argus, Kawakami notes:

"As I set to work creating a composition for sho and gagaku ensemble, what came into my mind was the image of the Fenghuang, a fantastical Asian phoenix. I was fascinated to learn that the model for this phoenix was an actual living bird, the Great Argus – thus, the title of the work. The Great Argus resides in Southeast Asia and is a bird of considerable size, with a discinctive and resonant voice. The male is particularly impressive, often putting on display his spectacular long, stiff tail. In this piece, I try to capture the magnificent look and sound of the Argus."

Listen to Kawakami's Lobo (2010): 

Lobo for violin solo, performed by Yosyu Komei

To learn more about Osamu Kawakami, visit schott-music.com.

News