[Shaku] sleep

From: Stav Tapuch (tapuch@hotmail.com)
Date: Tue Jul 05 2005 - 12:48:13 PDT


What do you all think about shakuhachi induced sleeping?

Normally I think musicians should be a tad insulted if their music puts
people to sleep, but I can't help but suspect that shakuhachi music might be
the exception to this general rule.

I don't think I could ever listen and really concentrate thoughout an entire
Kyorei without my eyes closing into a light doze for at least a few seconds.
  The sound is simply so soothing and relaxing, how could one not drift off
into a restful nap?

Recently I had the great pleasure of having a very accomplished player
perform a few songs just for my wife and me. I was riveted and felt
completly wide awake throughout the entire experience. My wife, though,
felt herself drifitng off and after a while the performer, a Japanese
jinashi player, told her "shakuhachi music produces many alpha waves,
inducing sleep...feel free to lie down!" So she lay down on the floor with
her head on a cushion and relaxed while he continued to play. Later she
said it was a huge relief to finally go to a shakuhachi performance and be
allowed to just relax and not make any pretense that the music is not sleep
inducing. For her that experience of being able to openly drift from sleep
to being awake with the changes of the music was wonderful. (And note: I am
blessed with a mate who adores the sound of the shakuhachi.)

On the other hand, I have heard another accomplished player say that only
poor shakuhachi playing makes one sleepy, and if it is done right the
audience should just be entranced and quite awake.

Would be interested in hearing thoughts about any of the above...

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