Japanese Treasures - The International Shakuhachi Society

Japanese Treasures

Various
Lyrichord - LLST 7228

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Artist
1	Kokû (Taizan Ha)	虚空	10'09	Shakuhachi: Yes Yes
	This long piece is played by two shakuhachi and a gong at Meianji, Kyoto, and represents one of the three most important classical pieces of the Fuke sect It is believed to have been composed by a priest named Kyochiku in the early 12th century. One day Kyochiku was meditating at the temple in Nara. In his dream he found himself floating in a boat; suddenly the thick mist rolled down the sky and blocked his view of the moon. Instead, he heard the moving melody of flute music. He reached for his favorite bamboo flute to accompany the ethereal melody. The music is long and simple, and the listener should forget everything and drift off into the sleep of nothingness. For 2 shakuhachis and a gong.
2	Kaede no Hana	楓の花	05'31	Shakuhachi: Yes Yes
	Kaede no hana (Maple Flowers), composed in the latter part of the Meiji period, though the style is more c1assical. The music describes the spring scenes of the Arashiyama hills in Kyoto. The young maples and other flowers in bloom among the rocks give one the image of the beautiful spring season of Kyoto, the ancient capital of Japan. The piece is stylistically characteristic of the Western part of Japan. For two kotos and one shakuhachi.
3	Sagari Ha (Nezasa Ha)	下り葉 (根笹)	06'00	Shakuhachi: Yes Yes
	Sagariha for solo shakuhachi means "Drooping leaves" and is perhaps the oldest and most fundamental work of the 10 pieces ma king up Kimpu ryu music. The rhythm also suggests waves.
4	Kyushu Reibo (Taizan Ha)	九州鈴慕	02'03	Shakuhachi: Yes Yes
	Kyushu Reibo for solo shakuhachi is one of the religious pieces of music composed in memory of Buddha's death. Kyushu is the southernmost island of Japan. Being closest to China, the most ancient cultures prospered there and many shakuhachi masters went on pilgrimages there. Conceived by one of the pilgrims who visited there and impressed by the reibo (spirit) of Buddha. The shakuhachi used here is 2 ft. l in. long.
5	Sōran Bushi	ソラン節	04'37
	A folksong.
6	Sakaya	酒屋	10'14
	Sakaya (from Joruri, the famous Japanese Bunraku Puppet Theater) come s from a puppet play whose full title translates roughly "the scene at the sake-shop where Sankatsu and Hanshichi were charmed by women dancing in bright silk kimonos. It symbolizes women's patience and faith. Osono's husband, Hanshichi, has a mistress and seldom stays home. Osono, however, waits for him every night till late with worries and regrets, yet with faith in ha- husband. Setting such as this are called kudoki or sawari, supposedly the most poetic sense, usually evoking tears, but smooth to the ears.
7	Nagare (Chikushi)	流れ	02'35	Shakuhachi: Yes Yes
	Nagare (The Stream) for five kotos, shamisen and Japanese flute, is composed by Kazuko Tsukushi. It describes small streams of Nikko, all leading to the temple of Chuzenji and combining with other streams until they form the waterfall of Kegon.
8	Shōchikubai	松竹梅	01'07
	Shochikubai (Pine, Bamboo and Plum Blossom) is a trio for koto, shamisen and kokyu (an ancient instrument somewhat like a violin, now frequently replaced by the shamisen). This piece is in the nature of a tone painting.