Songs Shining with Life
A Musical adventure through the path of the Japanese Tensho Embassy between Japan and Europe, told on Renaissance vocal and instrumental music and Early Baroque Italian. On female voice, renaissance lute, vihuela, archlute, and theorbo.
The Tenshō Embassy risked their lives to travel to Europe in the 16th century, bringing back reports on European culture, music, and Western musical instruments of the time. This program is a talk concert that combines performances with commentary, focusing on the history of the Tenshō Embassy.
The repertoire includes Spanish and Italian music from the 16th and 17th centuries. The concert begins with the Renaissance music that the Tenshō envoys would have encountered in Europe and then transitions to Baroque music—the style they might have heard had they remained in Europe beyond their historic journey.
Through music and narration, we invite the audience to explore the journey of these young Japanese envoys, who had never before encountered European culture. By tracing their experiences, we gain insight into the music and culture of 16th-century Europe while also appreciating the brilliance of their courageous journey.
This program aims to offer an opportunity to reflect on what it means to live in a world of diverse cultures, fostering mutual understanding and respect in today's global society.
For this concert, Trio Aido will perform on historical instruments similar to those the Tenshō envoys would have encountered in Europe. Each member of Trio Aido has a deep connection to Japan, making them well-suited to convey the richness of Japanese culture through this musical journey.