• https://youtu.be/ZZV_anJVr0I?si=epNd39QAYi-tpoWM
    『Dear Iwate』 Francisco Patrick

    The video, “Dear Iwate” by Patrick Francisco has just won the Grand Prize in the “MISETE IWATE Video Contest”(https://miseteiwate.jp/result.html
    )! The music is “Fantasy of Taneyama Highland” by Sumiko Sato. It was also awarded last fall, and I hope you will enjoy this new version of the video, which shows even more vivid and beautiful scenery of Iwate.

  • I am very honored to be a part of the “Summit Sound” installation at the Seattle Convention Center, renovated this past January in downtown Seattle. The audio list includes my composing mentor’s work, “Swing Low”, and many, many works by my contemporary composers—Christian, Byron, Paul K., Eyvind,….which brings back the fond memories of my univ. days. Thanks to the musicians and Sake brewer masters who participated in the recording, Levi, and Jack Straw. For listening, click on track #89 on this link, or if you have a chance to visit the area, I hope you will enjoy the soundscape.

    https://www.jackstraw.org/program/art-heritage-partnerships/summit-sound/
    Track #89: “Kome-togi Uta (Rice Washing Song)” from “Nanbu Sakaya Uta Project Vol.1”

    Flute: Paul Taub, Violin: Tari Nelson-Zagar, Cello: Lori Goldston, Contrabass: Dennis Staskowski, Percussion: Paul Kikuchi, Piano: Sumiko Sato, Conductor: Joshua Kohl.

    Lyrics: Wash, wash, wash, wash rice, wash it up and let’s go have a smoke.

    Liner notes: About 22.5kg of white rice is put into a treading and washing tub called hangiri. The water is added before the treading begins. Sung whilst washing rice, which is the first step of brewing. In this track, a shaker made using Iwate rice is played by percussionist.


    Summit Sound is a street-level, south-facing, outdoor, landscaped area with seating. It is located on the exterior of the building, mid-block on Pine Street between Ninth and Boren Avenues in downtown Seattle. Stop by and immerse yourself in these sounds, songs, and voices seven days a week, from 7am to 11pm –

  • Congratulations to Patrick F. for winning the Creator Video Award in Iwate e-Sports Video Contest!
    Thankfully, he used my music in the background. Take a look at the beautiful Iwate landscape filmed by a drone.

  • Sunday, December 24, 2023, 1:00 p.m.-
    @MAZARIUM Lounge (Morioka Bus Center 3rd floor Akiyoshi Toshiko Jazz Museum Cafe Bar West38)
    Performed by: Sumiko Sato (Piano)
    Admission: ¥2000 in advance, ¥2500 at the door (one drink order required)

    Come feel the warm sound of the piano on chilly Christmas Eve!

    For tickets: 080-6036-0038

  • Saturday, October 21, 11:15 a.m.-
    Ohasama High School Cultural Festival (open to the public)
    Sumiko will accompany the choir.

  • How would traditional songs from Iwate sound if expressed in contemporary piano style?
    Enjoy the variety of solo piano works, plus sake brewing songs by a folk song master on a renovated stage in Meiji-era sake brewery.

    Performers
    Sumiko Sato (Piano)
    Fukujiro Nakasato (Guest singer)

    Admission: 2000 yen
    Sunday, November 5, 2023 2pm~
    @Hamato Hall, Morioka Machiya Monogatari-kan
    10-8, Nanaya-cho, Morioka TEL.019-654-2911

    For tickets, please contact:
    Morioka Machiya Monogatari-kan
    10-8 Nataya-cho, Morioka-shi, Morioka 020-0827 TEL: 019-654-2911 / FAX: 019-654-2913
    E-MAIL:machiya@iwate-arts.jp

  • We are pleased to announce the re-release of “Nanbu Sakaya Uta (Sake Brewing Work Songs of Nanbu) in staff notation”, published in 2018.
    This book is a sheet music of eight sake brewing work songs based on the voices of the Toji (master brewers) in Ishidoriya, the home of Nanbu Toji.
    This is the first time that the actual voices of the Nanbu Toji have been compiled and scored together with a CD. (The CD “Nanbu Sakaya Uta Project Vol. 1”, sold separately @ https://sumikosatomu.thebase.in/items/58675478)
    It is also a rare record of one aspect of the traditional sake brewing process, as it is seldom sung as a work song anymore.

    For orders, see below:
    https://sumikosatomu.thebase.in/items/77126032

    “Nanbu Sakaya Uta (Sake Brewing Work Songs of Nanbu)” in staff notation
    Transcribed and Edited by Sumiko Sato

    Contents:
    ☆What are “Sakaya Uta (Sake Brewing Work Songs)”?

    ☆”Nanbu Sakaya Uta (Sake Brewing Work Songs of Nanbu)” in staff notation
    1. Nagashi Uta (Washing Song)
    2. Kome-togi Uta (Rice Washing Song)
    3. Aramoto-suri Uta (Moto Mashing Song)
    4. Soe-tsuki Uta
    5. Naka-shikomi Uta
    6. Sankoro-tsuki Uta~Henbyoshi
    7. Tome-shikomi Uta
    8. Moto-tsuki Honchoshi Uta (Mash Grinding Song)

    ☆Interpretations of Nanbu Sakaya Uta (Sake Brewing Work Songs of Nanbu) in order of working process

    ☆How Sake is made

    ☆Making the score of Nanbu Sakaya Uta (Sake Brewing Work Songs of Nanbu)

  • Kenji Festival 2023
    On this day, to commemorate Kenji Miyazawa’s death, flowers are offered, poems are read, songs from Kenji’s works are sung, and a play is performed in front of the Kenji Poem Monument.
    Sumiko will accompany the chorus.
    Date: September 21, 2023 3:30 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
    Venue: At the monument “Ame ni mo Makezu” in Sakura-machi, Hanamaki
    (In case of rain, at the gymnasium of Nanjo Elementary School in Hanamaki)
    Detail: https://sites.google.com/site/2016xianzhiji/home?authuser=0

    Violin Class Recital
    September 3, Sun.,10 am~
    Sumiko will accompany the violins.

    Recital with Sumiko Sato
    November 12, 2023
    To be announced.

  • September 23rd, Saturday, 2pm Home Concert

    September 24th, Sunday, 2pm Home Concert


  • On June 30 (Fri.) from 11:50 a.m., in “Gangan! Marble Music” (DJ: Fumiko Obara) on FM Hanamaki,
    some of my works related to Kenji Miyazawa will be on air. Enjoy the program!