Beautiful Country. Japan

I purchased this CD for the worst reason: to spend enough to take advantage of a coupon. I had a vague idea that the CD was a choral and classical collection of arrangements of Japanese melodies (I have no reading knowledge of Japanese) by various artists. I didn't want to spend too much money and the price of this CD was comfortably low. But quite frankly, I had my doubts. I have been burned in the past by inexpensive collections of Japanese music that turned out to be quite horrible, more suited to listening to in so-called Japanese restaurants in American shopping malls. I was very pleasantly surprised! This is one of the most beautiful collections of traditional Japanese music I have ever had the pleasure to listen to. Anyone who has the vaguest idea of traditional Japanese music will recognize most of the melodies. But what is especially nice are the extremely beautiful, almost wistful choral arrangements of melodies interspersed with lush, beautiful and very professional orchestral arrangements The album, encased in a beautiful washi paper cover, is a must for anyone interested in Nipponica and is essential for the collector of traditional music. I recommend it very highly.