The shakuhachi (尺八) is a right flute with free mouth in bamboo of Japanese origin . Evoking nature, it is very much used in traditional music. The Japanese Yoshikazu Iwamoto is one of the best interpreters. The shakuhachi was also used by contemporary type-setters such as Toru Takemitsu, Ryo Noda or John Zorn.
Description
The name
The term shakuhachi means “1,8 feet”, indicating the size of the instrument. It is about made up of two Kanji S Japanese:- 尺, shaku is a measuring unit of approximately 30,3 Centimètre S, divided into ten sub-units.
- 八, hachi indicates the number eight, here the eight tenth of foot.
Play
A player of Recorder breath in a rigid nozzle which leads the air in a whistle, which confers to him only one control limited on the height of the sound. The player of shakuhachi breath in his instrument as one would blow in the neck of an empty bottle. The mouth of the shakuhachi also presents a sharpened edge, making it possible to the player to very finely control the height of the sound.
To the level of the tact, intrument presents five holes, granted according to the Système pentatonic, without Demi-ton S. the most widespread instrument (1.8 shaku or 55 cm) gives a minor pentatonic range in D: D, F, Ground, C, D. However, the instrumentalist can exploit the power and the direction of his breath like on the degree of plugging of the holes to modify the sound of a complete tone, sometimes more.
Certain modern factors propose today shakuhachi-s with 7 holes making it possible to play a minor diatonic range more easily: D, Semi, F, Ground, Sib, C, D.
So it is about a very changeable instrument. Traditionally associated with the Koto and the Shamisen within the framework of the musics of the Bunraku (puppet theater), it exceeds the framework of Japanese traditional arts today to be used in Jazz or Modern music.
Materials
The shakuhachi is usually cut in a stem of Bambou of the kind Phyllostachys. The shakuhachi-s of intermediate size (near to the 1.8 shaku) in general have 7 nodes, the large instruments count some sometimes more. The borer is covered with a thick layer of Laque (ji) allowing a very strict control of the interior dimensions and a very precise tuning. Certain instruments are deprived of this lacquer: style ji-nashi. A part of horn of buffalo is inserted in the mouth (utaguchi), in general surrounded by an invaluable metal sheeting (gold or money) on the flutes of quality. The form of the utaguchi makes it possible to define the school to which the instrument is referred. The triangular utaguchi of the illustration opposite is characteristic of the school Kinko (Kinko-ryu); the utaguchi-s of the Tozan school are in the shape of crescent.
History
The flute of bamboo arrived at the Japan since the China and the Korea. However, the shakuhachi itself is definitely distinct from its ancètres continental, result of several centuries of evolution in Japan.
With the Middle Ages, the shakuhachi was associated with the sect Fuke zen Buddhism, whose monks, Komuso , used the shakuhachi like helps with the meditation. Their melodies ( Honkyoku ) followed the rate/rhythm of the breathing of the monk and constituted a support of meditation as much as a music.
Under the shogunat Tokugawa, the voyages were seen with mistrust by the capacity. The sect Fuke managed nevertheless to obtain an exemption because of their statute of monks itinerant beggars. The monks even managed to convince the shôgun to grant to them the exclusiveness in the use of this instrument out of the theaters. In exchange, the monks informed the shôgunat, which on its side used the behavior of the monks, a black dress and a braided hat covering the face, for its own spies.
The fear of these spies of the central capacity made that certain parts of honkyoku were used as a test. If a suspect monk managed to carry out them, it was probably what it claimed. If not, it was undoubtedly about a spy, who could then fear for his life. This use contributed certainly to the technical excellence which made the repuation of the sect Fuke .
The Restoration Meiji (1868), led to the abolition of the sect Fuke , suspect to maintain too much relations with the shôgunat. The practice of the shakuhachi is necessary thus prohibited during a few years. If the laic ones, which could use other instruments pentatonic, suffered little from it, the repertory of the honkyoku in majority was lost at that time. When the practice of the shakuhachi was again authorized, it was under condition that it is about a unit, with Koto and Shamisen , with the image of the accompaniments of Kabuki and Bunraku . Several years had to be still waited before the play solo in public is again authorized.
Recordings
True shakuhachi
There exists an abundance of contemporary recordings, particularly in the Japanese editors. The essential kinds are the Honkyoku , traditional solo, the Sankyoku , together with Koto and Shamisen and the Shinkyoku , music comtemporaine for whole of shakuhachi and koto . The shakuhachi is also employed in the whole of musics of the world.
Shakuhachi and synthetizers
During the Years 1980, the appearance of the Synthétiseur popularized the sound of the shakuhachi this one was indeed proposed among the instruments by defect on the synthetizers of Japanese manufacture.
Anecdotes
In Japan, the shakuhachi is played almost exclusively by the men. Incidentally, the expression to play of the shakuhachi can be used with a sexual connotation.
See too
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