Teiji Ito's exploration of spiritual dimensions through sound reaches its most profound expression on The Shamanic Principles, a collection of two major works that document the composer's deep engagement with ritual and sacred practice. Released by Tzadik in 2008, this album represents Ito's mature vision of music as a vehicle for transcendence and spiritual transformation. The album comprises two extended compositions: the 32-minute "Axis Mundi" and the four-part "Quetzalcoatl" suite. "Axis Mundi" was recorded at The Chapel, Center Stage, Baltimore in 1982, while "Quetzalcoatl" was captured in rehearsal around 1980. These recordings reveal Ito at his most expansive, creating immersive sonic environments that draw from multiple spiritual traditions and musical cultures.
"Axis Mundi," the album's centerpiece, creates a sustained ritual space through layered percussion, traditional instruments, and Ito's characteristic use of found objects and homemade instruments. The composition embodies the shamanic concept of the axis mundi - the cosmic axis connecting earth and sky - through its vertical architecture of sound and gradual transformation of timbral elements.
The "Quetzalcoatl" suite draws inspiration from Mesoamerican mythology and the feathered serpent deity central to Aztec and Toltec traditions. The four movements trace a spiritual journey from "Opening Chant/Gemstones" through "Toltec Flute Medley" and "The Story of Quetzalcoatl" to the concluding "Travel Song/A Great White Eagle." These pieces feature an unknown flautist and two percussionists, possibly Dan Erkkila, Genji Ito, and Yukio Tsuji.
The instrumental palette encompasses water drum, gamelan, frame drum, various hand drums, finger cymbals, bass drum, shakers, triangle, gongs, berimbau, xylophone, log drum, woodblocks, steel drum, sleigh bells, thumb piano, and glockenspiel. This global array of percussion instruments reflects Ito's synthesis of musical traditions from Japan, Haiti, Latin America, and beyond. As with his film scores, Ito performed and recorded all the music himself, demonstrating his philosophy that musicians should be able to create on any instrument. The recordings capture the intimate, ritualistic quality of his solo performances while suggesting the vast sonic worlds he could conjure through multitracking and careful arrangement.
The Shamanic Principles stands as testament to Ito's vision of music as sacred practice, offering listeners an entry point into transformative sound experiences that transcend conventional musical categories.
