Small Test

From: Tom (tom-tom@gaea.ocn.ne.jp)
Date: Tue Dec 19 2000 - 00:01:42 PST


Curiosity about some special seldom used and perhaps less known fingering
positions has prompted this request for responses from all those who care to
try this out. Here's the deal....

1. Play the normal chi in kan and atari the first hole (close and open it
quickly several times) and tell me what happens when the first hole is
closed. Don't change your head position while doing this test. Does the
pitch go up or down?

2. Play the normal chi-meri in kan and do the same atari on the first hole
again and tell me what happens this time. Don't move your head from the
meri position back to the normal position when doing this test. Does the
pitch, again, go up or down?

3. Play ri (ha in otsu for Tozan Sect fingering) moderately loud and then
close the third hole without changing your head position. Is the new note
(with only the fourth hole wide open) ro in kan? When you play ro in kan
with all the finger holes closed, is it stable with no discernable pitch or
volume difference when the fourth hole is opened completely? Incidentally,
playing the two note sequence ri-ro (kan for the ro) and not closing the
fourth hole when ro is sounded is a fairly standard tuning technique used by
a great many shakuhachi makers.

Try these fingerings on any length of instrument.

It would also be interesting to know who made the instrument(s) you use for
this test and, if possible, about when the instrument(s) was made.

The results will be tabulated and mailed out for everyone to know. So if
you respond, please state the length of instrument(s) used for these tests.

Thanks,

Tom



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