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Tube of delight!
#1 2010-03-23 16:41:25
A little portrait
I did a little solo concert last week at the Royal Asiatic Society in London. Gina Barnes came to the concert and wrote a little portrait afterwards.
http://worldmusic.suite101.com/article. … chi-player
Gina is a fantastic woman and professor in archeology with Japan as her speciality... and ok, she is married to David Hughes my supervisor.... but it is still nice of her to write this - I found 
I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through
listen to this music
Hafiz
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#2 2010-03-23 16:54:13
- Christopher B.
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- From: Berlin, Germany
- Registered: 2009-03-17
- Posts: 235
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Re: A little portrait
Wow! That is really nice to read, thansk for sharing!
All the Best,
In reality it is Ha,Ro,Ha,Ro... ~Sensei~
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#3 2010-03-23 16:55:19
- Lorka
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- Registered: 2007-02-27
- Posts: 303
Re: A little portrait
Good stuff Kiku, and an interesting read
Gravity is the root of grace
~ Lao Tzu~
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#4 2010-03-23 17:04:59
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#5 2010-03-23 17:11:53
- edosan
- Edomologist
- From: Salt Lake City
- Registered: 2005-10-09
- Posts: 2185
Re: A little portrait
Very nice, indeed, Dr. Day, but she forgot to mention the boxing gloves
Zen is not easy.
It takes effort to attain nothingness.
And then what do you have?
Bupkes.
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#6 2010-03-23 17:45:00
- Dun Romin
- Member
- From: Holland
- Registered: 2008-04-19
- Posts: 136
Re: A little portrait
That has a real nice sound to it Kiku! :-) When was it you're coming to teach this at the ESS Summerschool?
Tomorrow's wind only blows tomorrow. (Koji)
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#7 2010-03-24 05:46:10
Re: A little portrait
Hey, thank you all.
Ed, I try to use the boxing gloves as little as possible! I only take them out on special occasions.
I think Gina did a very nice work - the way the article moves between the portrait and facts about the shakuhachi makes reading enjoyable.
Did you notice she - for some reason - wrote under the picture that is also my avatar here that I am playing a 3.4. I SO wish I could play a 3.4. This photo pictures is 'just' my 2.9 and my absolute physical limit is 3.2. I think it is funny with the 3.4.... so I can't decide whether to make her correct it or not. 
I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through
listen to this music
Hafiz
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#8 2010-03-24 06:28:54
- Tairaku 太楽
- Administrator/Performer
- From: Tasmania
- Registered: 2005-10-07
- Posts: 3226
- Website
Re: A little portrait
Kiku Day wrote:
Did you notice she - for some reason - wrote under the picture that is also my avatar here that I am playing a 3.4. I SO wish I could play a 3.4.
I can play a 3.4 but there's nothing so special about that. Length is overrated. After about 3.0 there are diminishing musical returns. I have the biggest flute Ishibashi made and it's only 2.8. That's big enough to do anything. I have 3.3 Taimu but it's not as good as the 3.0 Taimu.
Do you know anybody who makes 3.4 and longer flutes that are better than a 2.8 or 2.9? Do you think Kodama's 3.6 is better than his 3.0's for example?
Al Ramos said I should be able to play a 3.8 or 3.9 with no difficulty, but nobody has made me one! I played Marco's 3.6 Shugetsu and I thought my neck was snapping. 
'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari
http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie
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#9 2010-03-24 09:56:05
Re: A little portrait
Tairaku, I don't think shakuhachi gets better with length... size is - as we know - not everything (sorry had to say that in this male dominated milieu).
But I must admit I think I have never heard anybody play the potential of a 3.6 as Kodama does. He is certainly a master in the sense of playing long instruments. I just think he did not much else in the mountains... The world ought to hear him. Europeans, there is a chance soon in Spain! He does both shakuhachi making workshop and teaching + concerts.
See: http://shakuhachisociety.eu/europeanshakevents.html
Email Jose for more info: josevargaszuniga@gmail.com
I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through
listen to this music
Hafiz
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#10 2010-03-24 13:45:19
- Tairaku 太楽
- Administrator/Performer
- From: Tasmania
- Registered: 2005-10-07
- Posts: 3226
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Re: A little portrait
Kiku Day wrote:
But I must admit I think I have never heard anybody play the potential of a 3.6 as Kodama does. He is certainly a master in the sense of playing long instruments. I just think he did not much else in the mountains... The world ought to hear him.
World ought to hear him indeed, why doesn't he make recordings? Or at least when he does his tour why don't you film some of it and put it on youtube? 
'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari
http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie
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#11 2010-03-24 14:17:30
Re: A little portrait
Kiku Day wrote:
He is certainly a master in the sense of playing long instruments. I just think he did not much else in the mountains... The world ought to hear him.
He's also a very kind and helpful guy. Once Tom Deaver arranged for Kodama to accompany me on a bamboo harvest. Negotiating with grove owners, etc. There was a clear language barrier between us but it hardly mattered in the grove. He took over and gladly handled most of the grunt work with efficiency! I was dog tired at the end of the day. I don't think if phased him. The guy is as strong as an ox!
By the way, congratulations Kiku. Nice write up!
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#12 2010-03-24 15:14:09
- Tairaku 太楽
- Administrator/Performer
- From: Tasmania
- Registered: 2005-10-07
- Posts: 3226
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Re: A little portrait
OK Ken, now you gotta make me a Taimu as big as that thing Kodama is blowing on! Foghorn RO.
'Progress means simplifying, not complicating' : Bruno Munari
http://www.myspace.com/tairakubrianritchie
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#13 2010-03-25 07:13:36
Re: A little portrait
Now that we talked about Kodama.
Europeans, this is an opportunity not to be missed:
I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through
listen to this music
Hafiz
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#14 2010-03-25 16:12:24
Re: A little portrait
Dun Romin wrote:
When was it you're coming to teach this at the ESS Summerschool?
I forgot to answer. I will be in Prague end of August for the next European Summer School. I won't be teaching though! I will only appear as the chairperson of ESS and just to be there. I am sure it will be a fantastic event!
I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through
listen to this music
Hafiz
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#15 2010-03-25 16:46:57
- Christopher B.
- Member
- From: Berlin, Germany
- Registered: 2009-03-17
- Posts: 235
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Re: A little portrait
Hopefully I can be there even if you are not teaching Prague is not far away from here I will ask some of Dietmars students and Dietmar as well maybe we can come there as group.
In reality it is Ha,Ro,Ha,Ro... ~Sensei~
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How do you know that life is a dream? Cause there is a way to wake up!
http://naturalbreath.wordpress.com/
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#16 2010-03-25 18:06:56
Re: A little portrait
Yeah - do come as a whole group. It is nice to meet other shakuhachi players in Europe. I can recommend!
I am a hole in a flute
that the Christ's breath moves through
listen to this music
Hafiz
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#17 2010-03-28 15:48:01
- Dun Romin
- Member
- From: Holland
- Registered: 2008-04-19
- Posts: 136
Re: A little portrait
I'm doing all that I can to make it possible to be there as well. It will be great to meet you all there. Just to bad you're not teaching Kiku; I'd love that experience.
Last edited by Dun Romin (2010-03-28 15:48:25)
Tomorrow's wind only blows tomorrow. (Koji)
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