Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

edosan wrote:

(FWIW: anyone who doesn't like honking Ro's is dead to me...).

I know a cure for that. Invite (you know who! ) and his buddy over to your hotel room and let them honk on all your flutes for about an hour. After that you'll be craving foghorn ro instead.

Ah thanks for the clip Edosan, that is very clear (and nice as well). I like it, I had a different expectation about it, but this is a rich sounding and rich of overtone kinda Ro. And yes, Tairaku, it feeled as a show off thing when people write about it, but in this clip I think it has its place for sure and gives it a cadence.

The gaijin students get aroused by this sound. I wonder if the Japanese do as well or is it just the honkeys?

Sometimes they go on honking ro excursions as a group and they all look like they're trying really hard to take a dump but they're constipated.

jaybeemusic wrote:

"Honking Ro Excursions?!?"    That sounds a bit to me like lookin for a "haggis" in Scotland......   you know.....the wee beastie that they send poor unsuspecting foreigners out to look for in the dead of night....

btw.....hey edosan..... why do you use 2shared?   not enough money for 4shared?...... it's not that much more expensive...   

jacques

Anything more than free, is expensive.

Honking seems to be a descriptive used by some who don't want to take the time to explain the subtitles of dynamic expression fully.  Is there always a reason to play ro with that expression?  And if you feel that ro should be played loudly with a full compliment of overtones, does using the word 'honking' really give justice to what it is you are trying to express?
As a quick answer to Tairaku's question about the Japanese's use of 'honking', yes it is used and striven for as are many other dynamic techniques, but not for the sheer sake of honking.  It's use falls into the realm of personal interpretation of a piece and is a part of the personal sonic palette to be used at the player's discretion.  As with any technique, overuse gets monotonous.
With regard to Aoki Reibo's use of 'honking', he seems to have used it more for rhythmic purposes than to simply say, ' look at me!  I'm honking!'.  As is the case with all music, technique is nothing but a means to an end.  And that end, once realized may have little to do with technique, though technique can have everything to do with evo/devolution.

Last edited by Jeff Cairns (2009-04-26 08:02:16)

edosan wrote:

jaybeemusic wrote:

"Honking Ro Excursions?!?"    That sounds a bit to me like lookin for a "haggis" in Scotland......   you know.....the wee beastie that they send poor unsuspecting foreigners out to look for in the dead of night....

btw.....hey edosan..... why do you use 2shared?   not enough money for 4shared?...... it's not that much more expensive...   

jacques

Anything more than free, is expensive.

4shared IS free.....

lol

Last edited by jaybeemusic (2009-04-26 12:15:15)

edosan wrote:

OK, Brian, you happy now (I dislike registering on hosting sites, but I do it here for the greater good, whatever that is...)?

I don't know what I had to do with it, but yes any sacrifices members make to serve the masses of shakuhachi buffs is appreciated.

Tairaku wrote:

edosan wrote:

OK, Brian, you happy now (I dislike registering on hosting sites, but I do it here for the greater good, whatever that is...)?

I don't know what I had to do with it, but yes any sacrifices members make to serve the masses of shakuhachi buffs is appreciated.

Jaques, I meant, sorry for the error (but I do hope that Brian is happy). [And I must admit, it's a much better setup than 2Shared, which I think is 4Shared's crummy little brother. Isn't 4Shared where Bruce Hunter stashes all his riches?]

Thanks for posting those two audio files demonstrating the deeply textured Ro used in context, Edosan.  And good question in the first place Bas, I was wondering that myself.

Bas Nijenhuis wrote:

Hello,

To clear up a question I have:

I've heard for more than once this saying: 'the Ro can honk'.

What does it mean actually?
It is stated in those sayings that it is good, is it? And why?
Does someone has a sound sample of a honking Ro and a non-honking Ro?

thanks,

Bas

Hi Bas, here is a link to a previous discussion on the Honking Ro with another sound file.
http://www.shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopi … 2265#p2265

It's just a slang for saying the tonic of a flute can take a strong embouchure technique to produce a loud ringing overtone. The term honk certainly does not do the sound justice, but it has become a modern criteria for some as a sign of a well-made flute. There are certainly very fine shakuhachi that are not held to this criteria.

Tairaku wrote:

The gaijin students get aroused by this sound. I wonder if the Japanese do as well or is it just the honkeys?

Marc Burner came by my shop once and filled the room with honkey o ku.  His words.

Thanks Perry,

I'll look into that link and soundclip.
due to my question about this sound\ technique I became much more aware of the overtones (and undertones) and find the concept op tone color and characteristics quite interesting, this is perhaps one of the aspects the shakuhachi is very 'good' at.

Speaking of foghorn Ro I would refer back to the Myoan recordings  at http://www.sepia.dti.ne.jp/shakuhachi/m … nryuu.html

Particularly to Miyagawa Nyozan (1868-1946). It's incredible that there are recordings of this fellow. He is cited by a few sources as the arranger/re-arranger of Ajikan.