Guitar Atlas: Japan from National Guitar Workshop and Alfred

Press release
Source: Alfred Publishing

Alfred and the National Guitar Workshop are pleased to introduce a new title into the ever-popular Guitar Atlas series. Guitar Atlas: Japan celebrates the culture, the tradition, and most importantly the music of Japan. To many, Japan is an exotic and faraway land, one in which images of Shinto shrines, pagodas, geisha, and Kabuki actors in strange face paint instantly capture the imagination. Guitar Atlas: Japan allows individuals to experience the rich and mysterious culture through its music.

In addition to arrangements of classic folk tunes like “Sakura” and “Edo Komori-uta,” the book teaches Japanese scales, modes, and tunings, and traditional instruments such as the shamisen, koto, shakuhachi, and more. The curious and the enthralled can now learn guitar techniques to emulate the sounds of these exotic instruments, discover the fascinating world of Kabuki music, and uncover the unique style of shamisen playing called ozatsuma. The book even sheds light on the Bon odori, or bon dances, held during the summer festival of Bon.

This exciting introduction to the music of Japan offers new and interesting music to add to everyone’s repertoire and teaches techniques, theory, and traditions that enhance guitar playing and enrich the spirit. Plus, the included CD demonstrates all the examples and compositions featured in the book.

Guitar Atlas: Japan is now available as a book and CD set for $14.95. Get your copy at your local retail store, or visit alfred.com for a location near you.

Other Guitar Atlas titles include Guitar Atlas: Africa, Guitar Atlas: Brazil, Guitar Atlas: Celtic, Guitar Atlas: Cuba, Guitar Atlas: Flamenco, Guitar Atlas: India, Guitar Atlas: Italy, and Guitar Atlas: Middle East. Each book includes a CD and retails for $14.95.

About Alfred Publishing
Since its inception in 1922, Alfred Publishing remains dedicated to helping people experience the joy of making music. With hundreds of expert authors and composers backed by a talented staff in seven offices worldwide, Alfred publishes educational, reference, pop, and performance pieces for teachers, students, hobbyists and performers spanning every musical instrument, style, and difficulty level.

Alfred currently has over 45,000 active print, DVD, software, general MIDI, audio CD and enhanced CD titles in circulation throughout the world. Titles represent a full range of musical tastes and styles, including the works of George and Ira Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Burt Bacharach, Henry Mancini, Led Zeppelin, the Eagles, Madonna, Green Day, and hundreds more. In addition to its own titles, Alfred distributes works from the National Guitar Workshop, the Dover Music catalog, and Faber Music.

For more information about Alfred Publishing, please visit www.alfred.com.

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