Let it Flow.

From: Bill O'Connor (billo44@gaea.ocn.ne.jp)
Date: Sun Nov 25 2001 - 18:17:10 PST


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I can just pass on the advice of Yokoyama Sensei regarding the 'momentum' of
the Honkyoku... Yokoyama Sensei repeatedly said to me that I should think of
a Honkyoku piece like a river, the music flows from beginning to end and
this flow is very important. Like a river the Honkyoku can be turbulent or
calm, but it never stops flowing. He urged me to internalise each piece and
make it my own, 'play it from the heart' he would say.

These 'nature' metaphors would crop up often in Yokoyama Sensei's critique,
I think the Komuso who developed this music spent a good deal of their time
wandering the countryside and playing the Honkyoku out in the Japanese
landscape. Many people I have spoken to about their impressions on hearing
Honkyoku for the first time say that the music conjures up images of natural
landscapes. I have enjoyed playing Honkyoku by the river Dart in England
(amongst other places), my most appreciative audience to date was a family
of swans who always seemed fascinated by the sound of the Shakuhachi.

Years before Iwamoto Sensei in England said to me that he could hold in mind
a mental picture of a complete piece compressed into an instant, he would do
this before performing each piece. I am no closer to understanding this now
14 years later than I was at the time.

Hope this helps!

Cheers
Bill.

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<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans =
Unicode">I can just=20
pass on the advice of Yokoyama Sensei regarding the 'momentum' of the=20
Honkyoku... Yokoyama Sensei repeatedly said to me that I should think of =
a=20
Honkyoku piece like a river, the music flows from beginning to end and =
this flow=20
is very important.&nbsp; Like a river the&nbsp;Honkyoku&nbsp;can be =
turbulent or=20
calm, but it never stops flowing.&nbsp; He urged me to internalise each =
piece=20
and make it my own, 'play it from the heart' he would =
say.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT=20
face=3D"Lucida Sans Unicode"></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans =
Unicode">These=20
'nature' metaphors would crop up often in Yokoyama Sensei's critique, I =
think=20
the Komuso who developed this music spent a good deal of their time =
wandering=20
the countryside and playing the Honkyoku out in the Japanese =
landscape.&nbsp;=20
Many people I have spoken to about their impressions on hearing Honkyoku =
for the=20
first time say that the music conjures up images of natural =
landscapes.&nbsp; I=20
have enjoyed playing Honkyoku by the river Dart in England (amongst =
other=20
places), my most appreciative audience to date was a family of swans who =
always=20
seemed fascinated by the sound of the Shakuhachi.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans =
Unicode">Years=20
before Iwamoto Sensei in England said to me that he could hold in mind a =
mental=20
picture of a complete&nbsp;piece compressed into an instant, he would do =
this=20
before performing each piece.&nbsp; I am no closer to understanding this =
now 14=20
years later than I was at the time.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT=20
face=3D"Lucida Sans Unicode"></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT face=3D"Lucida Sans =
Unicode">Hope this=20
helps!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT=20
face=3D"Lucida Sans Unicode"></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT=20
face=3D"Lucida Sans Unicode"></FONT></SPAN>&nbsp;</DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT=20
face=3D"Lucida Sans Unicode">Cheers</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=3D540183601-26112001><FONT=20
face=3D"Lucida Sans Unicode">Bill.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV>&nbsp;</DIV></BODY></HTML>

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