On Feb 19, 2005, at 10:43 AM, Donald Shepherd wrote:
> The two I received in 1998 from him had good scale intervals. They
> were nominally 1.8 shaku long, about 21 1/2 inches, but ro was closer
> to B flat than the proper D. The fatter one is my favorite. Its ro is
> quite mystical and quiets my mind whenever I play it purposefully. The
> thinner one has a bit of a preference for the upper octave over the
> lower octave, though.
>
> I thought the "original" Komuso flutes were solo instruments only and
> didn't have to be in tune with other instruments. My two Niemi flutes
> certainly fit that description since each one is only in tune with
> itself.
>
> Don
>
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I have two of John's flutes among my many other instruments: a
root-end shakuhachi which is about 1.8, and one of his black Tiger
bamboo shakuhachis which is even longer (about 2.0). They both have
good scale intervals. They are also what I would call Ji-nashi,
wonderful windy flutes, all bamboo, with no inlaid utaguchi.
Very mystical flutes both of them, in tune both with themselves and
with the universe. Any Komuso would be proud to carry one.
"Hearken to this reed forlorn,
Breathing, even though was torn
From it's bamboo bed, a strain
Of impassioned Love and Pain.
The Secret of its song, though near,
None can see and All can Hear.
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