In 2009 Hiroki Okano was given permission by Heritage Malta to record in the mysterious, underground temple, the Hypogeum. Using voice, Native American flutes and Tibetan Singing bowls, this intriguing soundtrack is captured on his new album, “Sleeping Goddess”. Hiroki will be returning to play at St James Cavalier, Valletta on Sunday 7 and Monday, March 8.
An established composer of ambient music and film scores, he uses ethnic, traditional instruments interwoven with the contemporary. Native American flutes, drums from America, Japan and Africa, sounds of nature, soaring keyboards and voice, all combine to create this powerful, spiritual music.
Hiroki performs extensively in Japan and has toured in Europe and the USA, appearing regularly at the UK’s Glastonbury Festival since 1992. There have been a number of nationwide TV documentaries about his music in Japan and he has been sponsored several times by the Japan Foundation in Tokyo and London.
In 2000 he took the ‘Peace Flame’ - lit from the fires of Hiroshima and kept alight in a temple in Japan - to Glastonbury Festival, the Tibetan Peace Garden at the Imperial War Museum and other venues, playing to promote peace and understanding in the world. He then took it to Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, where he performed at the Global Peace Ceremony.
In 2001 Hiroki participated in a festival organised by the Japanese government to promote Japanese culture in the UK - ‘Japan 2001’, which included appearances ranging from The British Museum and Stonehenge to workshops in schools around the country, demonstrating ancient and modern Japanese music.
As well as composing, playing and recording with his various bands, he continues to tour as a solo artist, appearing in concert halls, sacred sites and temples throughout Japan and Europe.
Performances at St James Cavalier on Sunday 7 and Monday, March 8, start at 2000h.
Tickets at €15 are available from St James Cavalier.
