Michael Ranta
American percussionist (born 1942 in Duluth, Minnesota) based in German. From 1973-1979 he was prolific with concerts, recordings, sessions and other works. Since 1979 he settled down as the resident composer, percussionist, and instrument handler, at Asian Sound in Cologne.
Anahata (1984-86)
Subtitled: Primordial Vibration / Sound ceremonial with a contemplative character. Composed in 1983-1986. Sound ceremonial with a contemplative character for two voices of Japanese Buddhist monks (traditional Shômyô techniques - traditional temple chanting - in a larger, modern and creative form), three Japanese Gagaku instrumentalists (traditional court music in a modern and creative form), one percussionist (with a percussion instrument orchestra) and electro-acoustic (fixed interactive sounds…
Yo-In (1980)
First world publication for the seminal Yo-In (1980) an electro-acoustic work produced in Japan and revisited by the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris in 1981. “Sound Theater for an imaginary rite”. Yo-Inleads to a sort of “celebration-ritualization of the day of man on Earth”.Jean-Claude Eloy discovered the meaning of Yo-In by going deeper into the culture of Japan where he had been invited by Toru Takemitsu in 1970: “Yo-In, echo, rhyme, resonance, psychic reverberation”. Karheinz Stock…
The Heliopolar egg 1976
This is one of the ultralimited edition of 26 copies (numbered from A to Z) with a different artsy cover, with one piece of Wayne Jacob (Michael Ranta's alter ego) original painting, and on back Hartmut Geerken original Lomographies; hand-colored, stamped and signed. It comes with ORIGINAL flyers/booklets, as well as a full LP, NOT one-sided as the regular edition...Again, truly monumental last ever Qbico release is a feast of exotic instruments, skilful playing and spirituality. No less than si…
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Improvisation sept 75
Originally released on the Iskra label in 1975, Improvisation Sep. 1975 is a mind-bending slice of drone improv from two of Japan's post-war heavyweights; former John Cage student, Juilliard graduate, and Yoko Ono's former husband, Toshi Ichiyanagi, Takehisa Kosugi, considered by many to be the father of what some called "Japanese Krautrock," and Stockhausen percussionist Michael Ranta. Heavy layers of reverbed ring modulators, threaded vocals, melodicas, pianos, violins, gongs and Japanese biwa…