Searching - Yearning for the Bell Volume 7

"Volume 7 of the 7 volume "Yearning for the Bell" series."

Riley Kōho Lee
Tall Poppies - TP168
2004

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Artist
1	Choshi (Taizan Ha)	調子	05'50	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee
	This piece is one of many 'main' or 'original' versions among the many short pieces that act as preludes or warm-ups. The Ch6shi pieces (also called Shirabe, Hon Shirabe, Honte Choshi, etc.) are performed in order to re-establish the relationship between the player and the shakuhachi that is most conducive to the state of mind necessary in meditation. This particular version is longer than most of the Choshi pieces. It is in a two-part form; the first part is the entire piece in other versions of Choshi. The second part is material not found in any other version of the piece.
2	Kokû (Dokyoku)	虚空	13'50	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee
	Though Empty Sky is the usual translation of Koku, this fails, however, to convey the meaning of the original Chinese characters, which pertain to the Absolute, and which by definition cannot be fathomed by the rational mind. The second character of the word, 'ku' is easy; it means 'sky' or 'air'. The first character 'ko' is not so easy. It refers to a concept that is in the realm of the Absolute and therefore cannot be explained or understood with words. Words, and indeed our thoughts, are of the world of the relative. For example, the word 'empty' has no meaning apart from the word 'full'. The concept of 'fullness' is implicit in our understanding of the word 'empty'. The word 'ko', on the other hand, does not mean merely 'empty', because it is not the opposite of 'full'; it is 'that' which has nothing to do with 'fullness'.
3	Chôshi (Yamato)	調子 (大和)	05'23	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee
	This version of Choshi is believed to have originated in the Yamato district of old Japan, what is now the Nara region, the site of the first capital of Japan, 13 centuries ago. Musically, Yamato Choshi differs greatly from the other Choshi pieces, but it functions in the same meditative and 'searching' way.
4	Murasaki Reibo	紫鈴慕	06'35	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee
	The word Reibo (Yearning for the Bell) may be found in more titles of pieces in the shakuhachi honkyoku repertoire than any other word. This is why it has been possible to record a series of seven CDs of honkyoku, all including one or more Reibo pieces, and call the series 'Yearning for the Bell'. The legendary 'father' of the honkyoku tradition, Fuke (ca. 9th C. China), did not play shakuhachi, but rang a rei (handbell) instead. To his disciples, Fuke's bell has come to symbolise enlightenment. "Yearning for the Bell" can therefore be defined as 'yearning for enlightenment'. This piece is much shorter than other Reibo pieces. It is believed to have originated in the Murasakino district of old Japan, but has been transmitted throughout Japan through many lineages including Chikuho.
5	San'ya (Dokyoku)	三谷	07'13	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee
	As with so many other honkyoku, there are numerous versions of San'ya. There are variations in the titles of this piece as well, for example, "Mountain Valley" (also pronounced 'san'ya'). The 'Three Valleys' may allude to a semi-mythical abode of enlightened beings, or to the 'three jewels' of Buddhism, the Buddha, the teachings, and the community. This version of 'Three Valleys', transmitted though the Chikuho lineage, is noted for its comparatively upbeat tempo.
6	Banji	鑁字	07'30	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee
	The Character 'Ban' Banji is the sister piece of Ajikan (on Breath-Sight; vol. 1 (TPO15) of the Yearning for the Bell series). The character 'Ban' is the second sound or letter of the Sanskrit alphabet and many other alphabets as well. Banji is unique within the honkyoku repertoire with its distinctive melodic lines and its unusual modes. Like Ajikan, it is highly ornamented, with a relatively fast tempo. Within the Chikuho lineage, the piece Yamato Choshi is played as a prelude to Banji.
7	Reibo (Shôganken)	霊慕 (松巌軒)	13'34	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee
	This is another of the Reibo (Yearning for the Bell) pieces. This version of Shoganken reibo, transmitted by Yokoyama and his lineage, belongs to a group of closely related Reibo pieces originating in the northern district of Aomori. This piece was transmitted by komuso ('priests of nothingness') based at the small temple (ken) called 'Pine Boulder' (Shogan), as distinct from other pieces within this group whose transmission were centered around other nearby temples or ken. A very close version of this piece was transmitted by Yokoyama's teacher, Watazumi, but with the title Furin (Wind in the Woods).