Native Intrument

This album features an innovative musical intrument, which resembles a xylophone and has a set of bars especially made from natural crystal. The "Shui-jing qin" produces usually clear sounds that are influenced by the energy released from natural crystal. This music is light and gentle refreshing and relaxing, like gentle mind.

When John Dowland composes the seven pavans that form the famous Lachrimae, he gives the instrumental repertoire one of its first masterpieces. The Sit Fast consort, lead by Atsushi Sakaï, features a precious version of those timeless pages. Who says the viole should be earmarked for early music? In fact, the pure sonority of this intrument, the ideal vehicle for inner grief, inspired George Benjamin too. Upon Silence, written in 1990 for five violes and a mezzo-soprano on a poem by Yeats, extends and updates the poetics tears of John Dowland. Four centuries separate the two composers but their polyphonic writings and their longing for genuine feelings gather them in that disc, smartly recorded by the elegant Sit Fast consort.

Genealogia (1974) is their third record and follows the classic Abbiamo Tutti un Blues da Piangere (1973). The 1974 album sounds to me more varied but unfortunately the band leaves behind any vocalising. On the other hand, fortunately, they manage to create an unique atmosphere with the addition of acoustic guitars and saxophones. The most interesting track is the fantastic self titled opener which sounds a lot like a medieval dance, somehow unusual in the jazz rock genre. Other highlights are the explosive Polaris with its light crescendo and excellent work on electric piano and the strong (In) Vino Veritas (the longest track of the album being over 6:40 mns) where they give you a taste of their electric guitar playing. Pretty good the harder sound of this intrument and the slightly dissonant arrengements. The most proggy performance here.