Mike's Oud Forums

Yuji Tsunemi

David Parfitt - 11-26-2008 at 03:18 AM

Looking at Yuji Tsunemi's website, I see that he has a couple of CDs out featuring predominantly oud:

1. "Al-Medina Al-Munawwara" (solo oud)  
2. "Ma Qablu wa Baad" (oud/req)

Does anyone have these CDs, and can post a few tracks on here to get an idea what to expect? Are there any non-Japanese websites where they can be purchased online?

Many thanks

David

oudninja - 4-3-2009 at 11:22 PM

In Japan he is famous, as the real oud player who studied under Ali Sriti of Tunisia.
and here is the site in which you can download his tremondous play "Azizza" (by A.Wahab).
http://www.asahi-mullion.com/column/w-music/040715index.html

Quote:

1. "Al-Medina Al-Munawwara" (solo oud)  
David

You can listen to his super play including this song broadcasted on radio in his site.(top page)
http://www.oud.jp/

Here is the video of his amazing play on a stage with a drummer and belly dancer.
http://www.expo2005.or.jp/jp/E0/E1/head/0807_003.html

And you can see his play of a Turkish tune with a violinist .
And a splendid play with Bansri and Tabla.
http://homepage.mac.com/kohara_m/otokin_theater/iMovieTheater121.ht...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xm-ZDdNgKD4

He played oud at The Japanese Cultural Festival 2006 in Cairo, and it was a success.
In an interview of a music magazine in Japan, he says, " Naseer Shamma and Munir Bashir are worst. Their play is just easy-listening music, and they lack the tarab." He knows what tarab is all about. He is a sentient artist. He is said to be as top oudist as other top world oudists in the Middle East. Some people say there are not so good player as him even in Middle East.
Check him out!

Marina - 4-4-2009 at 12:40 AM

;-)
Can not find NADA.
;)

oudninja - 4-4-2009 at 12:53 AM

You can find and click a " beige-color small square" just above the "(QuickTime) indication" of this page.
I hope you will manage.

Marina - 4-4-2009 at 03:08 AM

Yes! It works!
:applause:

John Erlich - 4-9-2009 at 12:52 PM

Quote:
In an interview of a music magazine in Japan, he says, " Naseer Shamma and Munir Bashir are worst. Their play is just easy-listening music, and they lack the tarab." He knows what tarab is all about. He is a sentient artist.


Though everyone is entitled to his opinion, I don't find this comment particularly intelligent or insightful.

I personally have some criticisms of Iraqi oud style. I find Iraqi floating bridge ouds a bit thin sounding, similar to Turkish uds, but without the delicacy of Turkish uds. The Targan/Haider school from which Munir Bashir and Naseer Shamma is similarly "neither here nor there," lacking the deep tone and some of the mystical feel of other Arab ouds and Arab oud playing without the Turkish technical prowess to compensate.

This doesn't mean I dislike Iraqi oud playing...I am listening to Jamil Bashir as I write.

Peace,
John

Marina - 4-10-2009 at 11:43 AM

John, you know Japanese language!!!???
:applause:

samiroud123 - 4-10-2009 at 12:50 PM

i really enjoyed listening to this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JEnN7F3zq38

John Erlich - 4-10-2009 at 02:26 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Marina
John, you know Japanese language!!!???
:applause:


No...I was reading OudNinja's translation. :shrug:

I speak and read English, Spanish, Hebrew and some Arabic and Russian. No East Asian languages...yet, but my son (4 1/2 yrs. old) tells me he wants to learn Chinese! :D

I can certainly appreciate how different East Asian languages are from English and other European languages and how difficult translation is between them.

Sayonara,
Johnny-San

oudninja - 5-9-2009 at 07:19 AM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VgMZjczdz0

I recommend this performance to everybody here.
This is awsome!
He plays oud with a violin, and this duo sounds perfect!
I hear this tune is Turkish song, but don't know its title.
Does anybody know it?

David Parfitt - 6-18-2012 at 02:50 AM

In case anyone is interested, I have at last found a reliable source for the Yuji Tsunemi CDs! They are available from the following site:

http://www.ahora-tyo.com/ (do a search for "Tsunemi")

I sent an email in English via the contact page and received a reply from a very helpful Mr Megumi Takahashi - his direct email is megumita 'at' abox.so-net.ne.jp

I ordered all three albums - "Al-Medina Al-Munawwara", "Ma Qablu Wa Baad" and "Tariiq".

"Al-Medina Al-Munawwara" is solo oud and consists of taqasim, samais and a couple of instrumental versions of Mohamd Abdelwahab songs.

"Ma Qablu Wa Baad" features oud and req, and is in a similar vein to the above CD.

"Tariiq" is oud, violin, qanun, bass and req and is again a mix of taqasim and compositions.

The three CDs cost a total of 10000 yen (approx. £80/$125) including postage which took just a few days, but it was the extortionate customs charges of (£30/$47) that really hurt. Let me tell you though, they are worth every yen!! I have no hesitation in recommending them, and they are already among my favourite oud CDs. Yuji Tsunemi is certainly the real McCoy-san! He has a very distinctive style and I'm keen to find out more about his background. I've managed to make contact with him by email, but not had a chance to ask much yet, so will see what develops.

All the best

David





Eason - 7-10-2012 at 03:33 PM

Hello David,

I came from Taiwan and have been take few lessons with Tsunemi-san in Japan,
If you like his music,
Maybe you will interesting in his 2 other CDs : Stoy, Stoy 2

You can order from this site if you want

http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/403377
Stoy
Regular price (tax incl.) : ¥2,625
http://www.hmv.co.jp/en/product/detail/22106
Stoy 2
Regular price (tax incl.) : ¥2,625

All the best

Eason

David Parfitt - 7-13-2012 at 12:43 PM

Hello Eason

Thank you very much for letting me know about these CDs! Do you know if they are solo oud, or if there are other instruments too?

Best wishes

David

Giorgioud - 7-14-2012 at 05:20 AM

Wow, I love his style! Quite unique! He has the tarab all right!Thanks for sharing. I'll be buying one of his CDs soon.....

Current website or contact for Yuji Tsunemi?

zidankay - 11-26-2019 at 01:26 PM

Hello does anyone have an updated contact or website for Yuji Tsunemi? He doesn't have a facebook page in English or a website that I could find (again in English).
Thank you in advance,
Kay Campbell

John Erlich - 11-26-2019 at 09:39 PM

Quote: Originally posted by zidankay  
Hello does anyone have an updated contact or website for Yuji Tsunemi? He doesn't have a facebook page in English or a website that I could find (again in English).
Thank you in advance,
Kay Campbell


Is this him? https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Musician-Band/%E5%B8%B8%E5%9... I just copied and Google-searched what I thought might be his name from this YouTube video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qm1T0aq9GEw

Good luck,
"Udi John

majnuunNavid - 11-27-2019 at 02:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by zidankay  
Hello does anyone have an updated contact or website for Yuji Tsunemi? He doesn't have a facebook page in English or a website that I could find (again in English).
Thank you in advance,
Kay Campbell


His website at oud.jp says you can contact him at yuji@oud.jp. He appears to be posting his current events on this website so it should be active. Good luck.