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John Singer

Singer, John
Born 1956

Shakuhachi

John Singer, master shakuhachi teacher, performer, recording artist and former shakuhachi instructor at the University of Hawaii, has performed music on the Japanese bamboo flute since 1975. After several years of intensive study under the tutelage of the late shakuhachi Grand Master and Living National Treasure Yamaguchi Goro and shakuhachi master Matsumura Homei, John was awarded a Shihan (Master Teacher certificate) in 1982. It is important to note that John is one of the very few shakuhachi masters in the world to perform using extremely rare ancient instruments dating back to the 17th century. John has performed throughout Japan, Hawaii, Europe, and mainland United States to audiences very appreciative of his unusual talent and mastery of this difficult musical instrument. He has appeared many times on radio and television, and has been actively performing and lecturing at colleges, Zen centers, and other venues in recent years. In addition to providing mesmerizing entertainment, the purpose of John Singer's concerts is to give his audiences an understanding of the shakuhachi both as an unusually dynamic musical instrument and as a meditative tool having a rich history within the Zen Buddhist tradition.

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Albums

Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan

An exciting fusion of Japanese and Western musical traditions, this non-edited acoustic performance blends the haunting qualities of John Singer's shakuhachi with the superb musicianship of Paul Hurst on the Concert Harp.

Global Motion Global Motion

A world jazz recording with Paul Horn and members of Skywalk, with rhythms ranging from Brazilian, to African, to Japanese. Global Motion matches master flutist John Singer's shakuhachi with sax, flute, keyboards, guitar, bass, vocals, and a lot of percussion.

Moonlit Castle Moonlit Castle

An exciting fusion of Japanese and Western musical traditions, this non-edited acoustic performance blends the haunting qualities of John Singer's shakuhachi with the superb musicianship of Paul Hurst on the Concert Harp.

Naked Vision Naked Vision

Going beyond traditional musical and cultural boundaries, John Singer's Naked Vision is a collaboration of his Shakuhachi music with that of other master musicians including Zakir Hussain (tablas), R. Carlos Nakai (Native American flute), Aenea Keyes (violin), Todd Barton (composer, synthesizers), and others in a striking new world music recording.

Shakuhachi Bell Shakuhachi Bell

A performance of four Kinko Ryu Zen Buddhist pieces by John Singer combined with the Tibetan bells of Karma Moffett. The first piece Hifumi Hachigaeshi No Shirabe is a combination of two pieces, Hifumi No Shirabe (Introduction) and Hachigaeshi (Returning of the Bowl). The next two pieces Koku Reibo (A Bell Ringing in The Empty Sky) and Mukaiji Reibo (Misty Ocean Bell) are two of the most difficult and highly regarded of the Kinko Ryu Honkyoku pieces. And the fourth piece Yugure No Kyoku (Twilight Bell) is considered to be one of the most beautiful.

Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi Zen

John Singer gives a solo performance of the rare and ancient Nezasa Ha Kinpu Ryu Honkyoku Zen Buddhist pieces. These were taught to him by the Iemoto (Grand Master) of the Kinpu Ryu, Inoue Shouei (Inoue Shigeshi) in 1987. This music originated in northern Japan and consists of 10 pieces in total. This is their first introduction to the West.

Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1

The first recording of its kind, John Singer performs 16 Zen Buddhist pieces using 11 ancient and rare Edo and Meiji period instruments.

Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2

The first recording of its kind, John Singer performs 16 Zen Buddhist pieces using 11 ancient and rare Edo and Meiji period instruments. (Disc 2)

Zen Shakuhachi Duets Zen Shakuhachi Duets

Master shakuhachi musicians John Singer and Mizuno Kohmei perform seven of the rare Kinko Ryu honkyoku duets. Most of these were created by their teacher, the Grand Master and Living National Treasure, Yamaguchi Goro. This is the only recording of its kind. The Compact Disc includes a special duet version of Sokaku Reibo (Nesting Cranes).

Tracks Recorded

Pieces KanjiLengthAlbumInstrument
Akebono Sugagaki 曙菅垣 08'18 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Azuma no Kyoku (Kinko Ryu) 吾妻の曲 05'13 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Play Button Bamboo Safari 04'33 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Banshiki Chō 盤渉調 03'40 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi
Play Button Brasilia 04'17 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Play Button California Roll 04'16 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Play Button Cedar and Bamboo 04'00 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Choshi (Myoan Shinpo Ryu) 調子 05'54 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Chôshi (Yamato) 調子 (大和) 02'29 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Play Button Connemara 04'29 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Play Button Desert Light 03'21 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Play Button East Wind 03'47 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Play Button Flute Dream 03'48 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Play Button Global Motion 04'01 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Hachigaeshi (Nezasa Ha) 鉢返 (根笹) 04'34 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Play Button Hamabe no Uta 浜辺の歌 03'06 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Hamabe no Uta 浜辺の歌 03'11 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Play Button Haru no Umi 春の海 08'03 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Haru no Umi 春の海 08'07 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Hi Fu Mi Hachigaeshi no Shirabe (Kinko Ryū) 一二三鉢返の調 12'36 Shakuhachi Bell Shakuhachi
Hi Fu Mi Hachigaeshi no Shirabe (Kinko Ryū) 一二三鉢返の調 08'57 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi
Play Button Itsuki no Komoriuta 五木の子守唄 03'56 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Itsuki no Komoriuta 五木の子守唄 03'56 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Play Button Kazoe Uta 数え唄 05'04 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Kazoe Uta 数え唄 05'03 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Play Button Kesh Dance 05'17 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Play Button Kōjō no Tsuki 荒城の月 04'39 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Kōjō no Tsuki 荒城の月 04'47 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Kokû (Nezasa Ha) 虚空 (根笹) 10'46 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Kokû (Taizan Ha) 虚空 09'02 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Kokū Reibo 虚空鈴慕 13'15 Shakuhachi Bell Shakuhachi
Kokū Reibo 虚空鈴慕 07'15 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi
Kokū Reibo 虚空鈴慕 08'56 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Kumoi Jishi 雲井獅子 05'38 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi
Kumoi Jishi 雲井獅子 06'12 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Play Button Kuroda Bushi 黒田節 02'55 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Kuroda Bushi 黒田節 02'58 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Kyorei (Taizan Ha) 虚鈴 08'30 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Play Button Lady Of The Lake 02'23 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Matsukaze (Nezasa Ha) 松風 (根笹) 05'16 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Matsukaze (Nezasa Ha) 松風 (根笹) 05'12 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Meguro Jishi 目黒獅子 11'59 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Play Button Mist Of Ivory 02'53 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Play Button Moonlit Sky 04'56 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Play Button Moonrise 03'57 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Mukaiji Reibo 霧海箎鈴慕 13'47 Shakuhachi Bell Shakuhachi
Nagashi Reibo 流鈴慕 07'37 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Play Button Naked Vision 04'11 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Play Button Quicksand 05'04 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Reibo Maebuki 02'24 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Play Button River Run 04'05 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Play Button Rokudan no Shirabe 六段の調 08'42 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Rokudan no Shirabe 六段の調 08'47 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Sagari Ha (Nezasa Ha) 下り葉 (根笹) 03'01 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Sagari Ha no Kyoku 下り葉の曲 08'50 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi
Sagari Ha no Kyoku (Myoan Shinpo Ryu) 下り葉の曲 03'45 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Play Button Sakura Revisited 05'33 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Play Button Sakura Sakura さくらさくら 06'08 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Sakura Sakura さくらさくら 06'12 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Play Button Samurai Cowboy 05'06 Global Motion Shakuhachi
Play Button San Dan no Shirabe 三段の調 07'13 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
San Dan no Shirabe 三段の調 07'18 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
San'ya Seiran 三谷清攬 05'35 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
San'ya Sugagaki 三谷菅垣 08'34 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi
San'ya Sugagaki 三谷菅垣 08'52 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Play Button Seascape 04'27 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
Seascape 04'30 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Shika no Tōne (Kinko Ryū) 鹿の遠音 09'05 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Shirabe (Nezasa Ha) 調 (根笹) 02'44 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Shishi 獅子 07'01 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Sokaku Reibo 巣鶴鈴慕 08'21 Zen Shakuhachi Duets Shakuhachi
Sugagaki 菅垣 04'21 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 2 Shakuhachi
Play Button Summer Nights 04'28 Naked Vision Shakuhachi
Play Button To Infinity 02'01 Endless Sea - Impressions of Japan Shakuhachi
To Infinity 02'05 Moonlit Castle Shakuhachi
Tōri 通里 04'27 Shakuhachi Zen Shakuhachi
Tsuki no Kyoku 月の曲 12'09 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi
Yugure no Kyoku 夕暮の曲 14'18 Shakuhachi Bell Shakuhachi
Yugure no Kyoku 夕暮の曲 14'54 Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1 Shakuhachi

Publications

Title Kanji Publisher Year Pages Language
Review of The Shakuhachi: A Manual For Learning by Christopher Yohmei Blasdel and Yuko Kamisango

Notes 47, no. 2 1990 397-398
The Kinko Ryu Honkyoku: A Compilation & Translation.

Unpublished Paper 1988