The International Shakuhachi Society
- Recording: Breath-Sight - Yearning for the Bell Volume 1 -
Breath-Sight - Yearning for the Bell Volume 1
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"Volume 1 of the 7 volume "Yearning for the Bell" series."
Lee, Dr Riley Kelly
Tall Poppies - TP 015
| Track | Title | Kanji | Length | Shakuhachi | Shamisen | Koto |
| 1 (Listen) | Sokkan | 息観 | 07'41 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Breath Sight Contemplation of one's breath is "seeing" one's breath. The act of playing honkyoku is the act of focusing on one's breath. Played on an exceptionally long 3.1 shaku length instrument (one shaku = 30.3cm). | ||||||
| 2 (Listen) | San'an | 産安 | 07'46 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Safe Delivery This piece is from the Echigo District of northern Japan, where it was used as prayer for safe delivery during childbirth. It is also a prayer for charity and virtue in this world. Played on a 2.1 shaku instrument. | ||||||
| 3 (Listen) | Shirabe (Nezasa Ha) | 調 (根笹) | 06'00 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Original Tuning of the Nezasa Sect One of a group of short honkyoku pieces called Shirabe or Choshi, played as warm-ups or preludes to larger honkyoku pieces. More than that, they serve as a renewal of the relationship between the bamboo and the performer, a searching of the balance between the two that is most conducive to mediation. This particular Shirabe is the version which is said to have been transmitted by the Nesasa ("bamboo grass") sect of shakuhachi from Northern Japan. Nesasa pieces are noted for the technique of komibuki, a pulsating breath believed to be conducive to meditation. Played on a 2.4 shaku flute. | ||||||
| 4 (Listen) | Tori | 通里 | 05'47 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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"Passing" of the Nesasa Sect A piece transmitted by the Nesasa ('bamboo grass') sect of northern Japan, where the winters are long and harsh. This piece was traditionally played by the komuso (shakuhachi-playing mendicant priests) while passing down the road during pilgrimages of alms begging. Played on a 2.1 shaku flute. | ||||||
| 5 (Listen) | Ajikan (Itchoken) | 阿字観 | 10'03 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Seeing the Letter Ah In this case, the letter is the Sanskrit "ah" which, besides being the first letter in the Sanskrit alphabet, also has the meaning of "original", "primordial", "the 'Word' which existed in the beginning". Played on a 2.4 shaku flute. | ||||||
| 6 (Listen) | Shingetsu | 心月 | 07'19 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Heart / Moon In Buddhist traditions the moon, being not of this world, is a symbol of perfection and of enlightenment. "Shin" can be translated as both heart and mind, or spirit and soul. Extremely long phrases characterize this austere piece. Played on a 3.1 shaku flute. | ||||||
| 7 (Listen) | Sagari Ha (Nezasa Ha) | 下り葉 (根笹) | 06'00 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Falling Leaf Another honkyoku transmitted through the Nesasa sect of northern Japan. The title of this piece is also pronounced "Kudari ha". The slow falling of a leaf from its branch on an autumn day to the ground below is no idle affair. Played on a 2.1 shaku flute. | ||||||
| 8 (Listen) | Oshu Reibo (Futaiken) | 奥州鈴慕 (布袋軒) | 17'32 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Yearning for the Bell Legends state that the first honkyoku ever played was by a 12th century Chinese Buddhist monk who, in a trance, fashioned a flute from bamboo and began playing in such a way as to evoke the memory of his recently deceased teacher, who was noted for constantly ringing a handbell. This version of Reibo comes form the Oshu district of northern Japan. Played on a 2.6 shaku flute. | ||||||
| 9 (Listen) | Tamuke | 手向 | 05'52 | Lee, Dr Riley Kelly | ||
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Prayer for Safe Passage The term tamuke refers to making spiritual offerings to the Buddha. Originating from the Ise district of Japan, tamuke combines the elements of the requiem and the elegy of Western music. It is a prayer for safe passage through life and through death. Played on a 2.6 shaku flute. | ||||||