Saturday, May 30, 2009
Shakuhachi
Intro:
The shakuhachi is a bamboo flute played on one-end, its name means "1.8 feet",referring to its size..There are four holes at the front and one at the back. This 5 holes are enough to produce a complete range of sounds. The small holes give the shakuhachi its poignant (affecting or moving) tone.
Origin and History:
The shakuhachi has been traced back as far as ancient Egypt and is presumed to have migrated through India and China before entering Japan in the Sixth Century. It wasn't very popular and it was only in the Edo Period (1603-1867) when the shakuhachi was favored by swelling numbers of uprooted samurai warriors who joined the ranks of itinerant preachers, Komuso. The komuso wore large baskets over their heads to symbolize their detachment from the world. Legend has it that these komuso, forbidden to carry their revered swords, redesigned the shakuhachi from the root of the bamboo making it longer and stouter for use as a club as well as an instrument for spiritual attainment.
The quality of a shakuhachi is determined by two factors. Aesthetics of the bamboo as distinguished by its size, color, shape, nodal placement and root configuration. Performance of the instrument is reflected in its tonal quality, balance of notes, resonance and responsiveness.
Each piece of bamboo is unique, shakuhachi cannot be mass-produced, and craftsmen must spend much time finding the correct bore shape for each individual flute to result in correct pitch over all notes.
Labels: Shakuhachi - intro/origin
Sign off @
11:15 PM
