Mujitsu and Tairaku's Shakuhachi BBQ

edosan wrote:

Todd Frederick wrote:

However, I guess that the YUU is a consistent and well tuned flute, though I think that natural wood would produce sounds not possible with a synthetic material. Any thoughts?

Not really, and especially not at a beginner playing level. Even though there are people on this forum (big, powerful people...) who will argue till the sun burns out that the bamboo has a profound effect on sound produced by a properly shaped flute, the effect of the PLAYER on the sound is so very much more profound than the material the flute is made of. This is not to say that the bamboo (or whatever) has no effect at all.


I will now pull my thick iron protective shield over my head, and prepare myself.......

Pagan. Infidel. Traitor. Weeniehead.

Actually Ed is right here...........player is by far the number one factor in the sound.

Boulder Festival '96 a student at Yokoyama Sensei's class said, "I think there is something wrong with my flute."

Yokoyama grabbed it and made a great histrionic display of having difficulty making a sound and the student looked relieved. Then Yokoyama played some beautiful stuff on it and said, "Not the flute." or something to that effect.

Mythical story indeed Todd, since Karsh was only 7 years old when London died in 1916. London might have written his stories without a typewriter but Karsh would have been hard pressed to render his wonderful portraits without a camera. And in fact Karsh did not use a Polaroid Land Camera but highly sophisticated custom built ones, so he must have thought his instrument made a real difference, which of course it did.

Rick,  I really couldn't recall the exact persons involved (I'll check it out) and your photographic history knowledge is impressive, however, I hope you didn't lose the point of the story amongst the details.

Edit: I just did some checking. Wrong photographer. The correct story:

"When Jack London had his portrait made by the noted San Francisco photographer Arnold Genthe, London began the encounter with effusive praise for the photographic art of his friend and fellow bohemian, Genthe. "you must have a wonderful camera...It must be the best camera in the world...You must show me your camera." Genthe then used his standard studio camera to make what has since become a classic picture of Jack London. When the sitting was finished, Genthe could not contain himself: "I have read your books, Jack, and I think they are important works of art. You must have a wonderful typewriter." - Anonymous"

The point is that the person is more important than the tool.

Last edited by Todd Frederick (2009-11-30 13:01:58)

nyokai,

1.  Arnold Genthe is probably most noted for taking extensive photographs of the 1906 earthquake in San Francisco. His studio was demolished, and he went to a friends photo store and borrowed a Kodak 3A Special folder camera and a large amounts of film, and his is the most extensive coverage of the earthquake ever made using that "amateur" camera.

To all:

2.  In order to better learn how to play the Shakuhachi I just ordered a Yuu, since it seems to be the standard 1.8 and is well tuned. With the help of a friend from this forum I hope to make good progress this next year.

This is a very fine forum and thank you all for your help and excellent suggestions.  Todd

Last edited by Todd Frederick (2009-12-02 23:02:37)

Just  another thought...

I first started seeking suggestions here about how to play the shakuhachi on September 26, 2009. on the "Making Any Sound Impossible" thread. I played the Native American Flute for a number of years, which is quite easy for basic improvitational melodies and though the
Shakuhachi would be a simple. No such luck.

It is now December 6, 2009 and I am now playing recognizable notes, learning to identify the Japanese notation for these notes, and am refining my embouchure.

I mention this because a couple of months ago I thought about making my flute into "wall art" but now I realize that I CAN do this. If you are having problems, be patient, and shakuhachi will find you.

karmajampa.......

I have been influenced greatly by Mindful Meditation as described by Thich Nhat Hahn.

I practice many forms of meditation throughout the day, without even being aware of it, even when I rake the dropping from my doggie friends, repair fences, wash dishes or playing shakuhachi.

I did not have tea today. I had some nice coffee, and then chatted with friends on the internet.

I did get very stressed later in the afternoon, took a walk, and centered my mind, and did some shakuhachi practice in before making dinner..

It's always a challenge...day after day after day. Everything is imperfect.

We live for each day, each day at a time, and each day for what it gives to us.

Blessings, Todd

I agree. I was getting impatient, I've learned some patience with this flute. A good byproduct.  I'm just working on single notes and happy with what I get. No reason to rush.

What can be more humbling than to have a blade of grass teach you how to be a better person.