Matsu Take Ensemble

The Matsu Take Ensemble was founded in 2002 in Montreal, Quebec, with the aim of making known Japanese traditional, folk, and classical music and dances. Japanese music shows a profound serenity deeply rooted in nature. "Matsu Take" means "pine and bamboo," a tree and a plant of great symbolic significance in Japanese traditions. Matsu Take consists of 2 shakuhachi players, 2 koto players, one of whom sings, a percussionist, as well as a dancer who sings, plays shamisen, and taiko. The ensemble proposes pieces from the classical and folk Japanese traditions, such as geisha songs, folk songs (one of which has been composed more than 1,200 years ago), school songs, a percussion piece, a piece written by Zen Buddhist monks, a contemporary piece, and classical pieces for koto and shakuhachi. The arrangements of many of these pieces are original.