Anima and Bellows Variations Front Cover

Anima and Bellows Variations

Hitomi NIIKURA & Yoshiaki SATO

Track List

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A chance encounter between two people from different times, places, and backgrounds - from that meeting, a majestic musical variation has unfolded.

The duo album "Anima and Bellows" was born from the encounter between cellist Hitomi Niikura and accordionist Yoshiaki Sato, two musicians who come from distinct musical worlds. Five years after its release, their shared journey has continued to evolve, and this newest work, "Anima and Bellows Variations", brings those developments to full artistic fruition.

Sato's "Seven Variations on a Nign Theme," written specifically for this duo, expresses the deep sense of connection conveyed through Nign: a form of wordless song that transcends both space and time. A long-held creative vision centered around themes of time and distance, the work has been newly expanded to further explore and intertwine the expressive qualities of cello and accordion.

The addition of "Passacaglia," a variation based on a theme by Handel, allows each instrument's unique voice to resonate and contrast, ultimately completing a work that could only be realized through this duo - a testament to their evolving artistry and shared musical dialogue.

Artist Profile

  • Hitomi NIIKURA

    Hitomi Niikura began studying cello at the age of eight in Germany. After graduating with cum laude from Toho Gakuen School of Music, she continued her studies at Toho Gakuen Graduate School. When she was still a student at Toho Gakuen Collage, she made her CD debut with EMI Music Japan and released numerous albums. Currently based in Switzerland, she is active as a soloist both in her native country and abroad, constantly expanding her range of activities ranging from appearances as mistress of ceremony, program narration, and even producing her own dress collection for M Maglie le cassetto. Niikura excelled at the Conservatory in Basel (Switzerland), completing both her soloist and teaching diplomas with the highest honors. She has studied with Hakuro Mori, Tsuyoshi Tsutsumi, Thomas Demenga, and Martin Zeller (baroque cello). She currently plays a Matteo Goffriller cello from 1710, kindly loaned to Hitomi by the Munetsugu Collection. photo by Hannes Heinzer

    Artist page

    Hitomi NIIKURAの他のリリース

  • Yoshiaki SATO

    Self-taught accordion player Yoshiaki Sato began learning the instrument whilst a student at Kunitachi Collegeof Music. After graduating he continued his studies at C.I.M.Ecole de Jazz in France with Daniel Mille. Yoshiaki, who has set himself apart from the existing image of accordion with his distinctive sound is very much involved in live concerts, recordings, artist support, as well as drama music. Quite active in many genres, his activities do not limit himself to performing in Japan but abroad.

    Artist page

    Yoshiaki SATOの他のリリース

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