Bruce Jones wrote:
> Hello,
>
> As someone who *really* missed going to Boulder, I wonder if
> there are folks on the list who were able to go who might
> put something on email about their experiences at the Festival.
>
> I know I'd like to hear about them.
>
> Thanks,
>
> bj
>
> -Hi Bruce,
>
> Here's a brief outline of my experiences, and impressions of the
> Festival.
>
> There were master classes each morning by the five masters. Yokoyama
> Katsuya, Aoki Reibo, Hozan Yamamoto, Yamaguchi Goro and Kodo Araki.
> This was a special opportunity to hear them play and teach. Yokoyama
> Katsuya's master class was especially good, and I noticed that many of
> the other masters were in the audience that morning.
>
> In addition to numerous afternoon concerts and workshops there were
> three main evening concerts. The last two were great. Wednesday
> evening at Chautaqua was something else. Two hundred people led by
> Yokoyama sensei, blowing Tamuke during a thunderstorm was pure magic.
> It was Yokoyama's night. He played Shika no Tone with Kodo Araki to
> begin the concert, and performed a piece he wrote for shakuhachi, fue
> and voice. He received a huge standing ovation, and was given the
> respect he deserves. Kodo Araki also earned our respect with his
> simple, wabi sabi style playing that has much integrity.
>
> Thursday evening the five masters played mainly traditional music.
> Aoki Reibo blew everyone away with his brilliant playing of a
> traditional Gaikyoku piece with Koto and a modern piece with samisen.
> The last piece of the concert had Yokoyama Katsuya, Aoki Reibo and
> Hozan Yamamoto playing a modern piece they commissioned twenty years
> ago. They played as one and the standing ovation was thunderous.
> Aoki Reibo was overcome with emotion when they all spoke to the
> audience during the curtain call. On the bus ride back to Boulder
> people were buzzing from the experience.
>
>
> I had a booth to sell my flutes, and flutes that I import from Japan.
> Others selling flutes were Tom Deaver, John Neptune, Monty Levinson,
> Yamaguchi Shugetsu, Ken La Cosse, Mejiro's and Ronnie Seldin. I doubt
> there's ever been so many shakuhachi on display at one time. The
> sound of 50 players testing flutes was at times maddening, at times
> wonderful.
>
> I also performed at an afternoon concert with an oud player. The
> audiences were very supportive and enthusiastic. Because a lot of
> the great players came by to try out my flutes I was treated to many
> mini concerts at my booth. In Addition to the many fine Japanese
> playeres there was Marco Lienhard, Riley Lee, Stan Richardson, James
> Scheffler, Michael Gould, and others whose names I didn't get but who
> were real heavyweight players. Furuya sensei, Yokoyama'a main deshi
> stood out as not only a great player but a very generous and happy
> man. He gave me an impromtu lesson at my booth for almost 30
> minutes.
>
> I created a shakuhachi with an Arabian scale a few years ago and
> didn't know how it would be received at the festival, so I was
> relieved and happy that John Neptune and Yokoyama liked them.
> Yokoyama ordered a left handed one for himself. Many people
> approached him and asked his opinion about their flutes or flutes they
> were considering buying. He very graciously tested everyones flutes
> and we got to hear the master of master's play. What a beautiful
> sound he has! His main students are also great players and are very
> good humored helpful.
>
>
> I got to see old friends from Japan, and meet many players and
> teachers I'd heard of, but hadn't met before. We exchanged CD's and
> e-mail addresses. At the end of the week the participants were
> getting much closer, and it was a bit like summer camp. Overall it
> was a very positive, inspiring experience, in spite of some ego trips
> and dissorganization. David Wheeler and Corey Sperry, and Christpher
> Blaisdale did a real good job, considering that it was a gargantuan
> task. It went by too fast. Hopefully there'll be another one in four
> years. There's talk of it being in Hawaii, Seattle or Europe.
>
> There's much more to tell, but I don't have the time right now. I'll
> post a more complete account along with some photos on my new web
> site, which will be ready next week:
> www.cloudhandsmusic.com/peteross
>
> Best regards, Peter Ross
>
>
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