Not to restart this post again, but as I am sending the confirmed songs to Masahiro, I looked for a youtube vid of Saltarello.
This was really cool to see. 
I actually didn’t know it was a 14th century song. Even better!
Nice version Kyle
“This is an Italian song from the 14th century that I enjoy. It could be cool on the shamisen! It was one of my only attempts to learn to play classical guitar :)”
Yeah Kyle.
I don’t know the origin of the song… It apparently is the soundtrack of Amelie ( the movie)
But i heard this song at my girlfriends graduating day… A friend of mine played it with piano at the ceremony
And this latest video you posted is awesome 
That would work well with shamisen i think.
“This is an Italian song from the 14th century that I enjoy. It could be cool on the shamisen! It was one of my only attempts to learn to play classical guitar :)”
Heheh. I guess my eyes glazed over the numbers. (a natural neurological response from a mathematical dunce like myself 
)
Well, for Germany i would suggest this north german traditional:
:o)
Oh man, that would be awesome!!!
That’s a song we should keep in mind for the next album. (recording is about 20 days away, so we’ve started on practicing the pieces)
So what is the full record list of pieces you are practicing on?
Pieces are subject to change.
1 Japanese folk song - Still waiting to hear from Nitta san about that. (Letting him pick his favorite Japanese piece)
2 Irish- Greensleeves http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ldSvr_nDjKU
3 Greek - Mekapsis http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=romVeYGa5CI
4 Arabia - Ya Ghzayyd
5 Ottoman - Ceddin Deden http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zcsg4By_JB8
6 Italian - Saltarello http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e8aQm3SoyI4
7 English - In Darkness Let Me Dwell http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ym1kWj1TwkU
8 Tuvan - Dyngyldai http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TIaTlQpja6I
9 American- Shady Grove http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-kaG1NuLZM
10 Bolivian - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwAxqf63zMM
11 Egypt - Song of Upper Egypt - Tita ya mahla nurha
12 Indian Naghma-e-Quddusi
13 Russia Кorobushka http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ve5p-0Q4tY
I sent Masahiro several pieces, and this was his favorite.
It’s gonna be rockin Too bad the Swedish song didn’t make the cut, but I guess it was because it didn’t have enough melody.
Oh nuts! I forgot about that song!! (We were juggling many song ideas, so some got forgotten)
Masahiro did say that he liked the Swedish song. I’ll ask him if he wants to exchange Naghma-e-Quddusi for it.
Reviving the probably longest thread we have… (We need pages!)
While on the train yesterday I thought about something that would be really cool. The current audience of the CD you are recording will be bachido members and other shamisen players that are not here yet. As time goes on, I figure it will be used to attract more people to the wonderful world of shamisen.
But right now it’s about us shamisen players. So what would be better than to offer the notation for the songs in the album? It would be an epic feeling to be able to play along the songs with tabs for each of the shamisens.
There are some problems I guess. Such as: Legal issues regarding some of the songs, you guys improvising when recording, time to create the tabs.
Let me know how you feel about this idea Kyle, Kevin and Masahiro.
If you like the idea I could make an effort to make the shamisen tab editor finished faster.
Also what are your plans for distributing this CD? Digitally, physically?
That’s a good idea. My guess is that at some point we will have some of it, most of it, or maybe even all of it tabbed out and posted somewhere here. It’ll take some time though.
Reviving the probably longest thread we have… (We need pages!)
Luke and I talked about that. Personally, I’m a fan of collapsible posts, like you get in long Gmail message threads.
It would be an epic feeling to be able to play along the songs with tabs for each of the shamisens.
:-O!!! Awesome idea!!! Yeah, I’m definitely all for that.
There are some problems I guess. Such as: Legal issues regarding some of the songs, you guys improvising when recording, time to create the tabs.
Fortunately, all the songs are traditional, so we don’t have to worry about legalities. Improvising… well, we’ll see what happens. The main point is having notation with the CD, and that should definitely be done. We can work out the specifics as we pursue it.
If you like the idea I could make an effort to make the shamisen tab editor finished faster.
Well, I’m hoping we’ll be able to get musicians/singers who can authentically preform the songs with the aesthetics from the region of which they came from. No doubt that will take a lot of time, so I don’t think you will need to rush the tab creator
Also what are your plans for distributing this CD? Digitally, physically?
My hope is digitally. In our big Bachido meeting in Sapporo, I’m gonna talk with Masahiro about having all his CDs sold on iTunes. With postage costing as much as the album, physical distribution isn’t preferable, methinks.
If you plan on only making it available digitally, please add some form where you can download the files because iTunes is a cancer application that will slowly, but steadily eat up your computer.
I’m really glad you two are up for the tabs idea It’s fun to try and learn the song from ear, but with 3 shamisens it can be hard to get a good feeling for what instrument plays what.
Oh… Why do I suddenly feel an enormous pressure of hours and hours of transcribing work coming on…
That’s ok though. I like the pressure. Helps remind me that I’m alive!
When the going gets tough, the tough get going! Cheer up Kevin
haha keep at it kevin ^^
Make sure also to take a nice lay on the couch relaxing while you play abit of shamisen or somthing to keep your mind off things. It may help someday with stress or whatevers on your mind to just relax abit.
Cant wait for the CD will hafta try an get it some time
Wow, this thread is so giant.
I’ll tell you what Kevin. You transcribe Mekapsis and I’ll transcribe the rest. That song is so complicated that we’ll probably finish at about the same time.
Well we are now a good 2 days into the recording and well I have to tell you guys… The original plan is feeling more and more like an out of date blueprint. It s looking like we are going to be adding some of Masahiro’s originals and we ended up learning tunes that we not even on the list. The recordings are coming out swell so far. Kyle is kicking some major butt playing Shamisen, horse head fiddle and throat singing.
P.s. look forward to Masahiro’s new originals. These tunes have to some shredding sections coming up.
Oh and also, Grant, you may be pleased to know that a little bit of the old estradasphere will probably be thrown in. . .
As in… The RETURN!
Yeah, I said it!