Here is a long-overdue reissue of this magnificent recording and performance of this majestic, otherworldly music played by The Kyoto Imperial Court Music Orchestra. The “gagaku” (refined, elegant, or correct music) style is an amalgam of various court musics from India, China, and Korea, from as long as 1500 years ago. Because of the continued support, Gagaku music may be heard today much as it sounded a millennia ago. Included are classics such as “Etenraku” (music of divinity), the masterpiece, “Manzairaku,” for the majestic dance of four persons in bird costumes, the sword dance “Embu,” and “Hassen,” the music of the crane dances. Also here is the dragon dance “Nasori”; “Goshoraku,” with tones based on the five Confucian principles; music to the Indian bird “Karyobin”; and the opening prelude “Irite.” – “Blue” Gene Tyranny