Japan’s National Library (National Diet Library): 1,000 More Sound Recordings From Historical Recordings Collection (Rekion) Now Available to Stream Online

On November 27, the National Diet Library (NDL) made approximately 1,000 sound recordings of the Historical Recordings Collection (Rekion) available for streaming online.

Examples of sound recordings:

• 『クリスマス・キャロル（1）Joy To The World（2）Jingle Bells（3）Silent Night Holy Night（4）Deck The Halls』…A medley of four Christmas carols.
• 『（音楽鑑賞教育）合奏：アロハ・オエ』…A farewell song of Hawaii, performed on the Hawaiian guitar.
• 『あゝ、そは彼の人か（歌劇“椿姫”より）』…A recording of “È strano! … Ah, fors’ è lui” by the sopranist Toshiko Sekiya, accompanied by the Milan Scala Orchestra.
• 『落語：スピード成金』…Rakugo made and performed by Gontaro Yanagiya I.
• 『野鳥の声　第三集（Japanese Bird Song）（五）こまどりを主題としたコーラス』…Songs of komadori, a type of Japanese bird, recorded by the Wild Bird Society of Japan.

The total number of recordings contained in Rekion is about 50,000 items. 

Approximately 4,900 of them are provided on the internet, while others are available only on the premises of the NDL and about 300 Rekion partner libraries in Japan and overseas.