A great musician transports your soul in such a manner that you forget your body. The rapture that you feel transcends the corporal self and you are lost in the music. When it is this good, you want to know how such feeling could be generated by one person toward so many. When I heard Narimichi Kawabata play violin during a local concert, I had to find more.
I searched the web and found very little in English. It turns out this dynamic violinist is blind, but by the manner of his stage entrance and exit, that was difficult to discern. His expression of power, energy, finesse and passion are clearly embodied in his music.
His devotion to his profession began at an early age when his father told the 7-year old Narimichi that he would never see again. Despite what must have been anger at the poor fortune of having his eyes melt from a bad combination of incorrect diagnosis and inappropriate medication, he fondly recalls his time at UCLA Medical clinic where doctors determined his ailment.
A PDF that has an extract and talks about his book. “Bokuwa Namidano Denai Mede Naita” (I cried with my eyes, which cannot produce tears. Find it here.
The U.S. Amazon.com only lists a few of his CDs, You can find them by clicking on this search “Search Amazon for Narimichi Kawabata“.
The Japan site: Amazon.co.jp has a more extensive list of books and CDs. You will find them by clicking on this search “Search Amazon in Japan for Narimichi Kawabata“.
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