John,
In my limited perception, the curve of the root end of the take creates an
acoustic dynamic that will be percieved differently from the binaural
perspective of the player as well as the listener than that of a straight
piece. The situation has to do with directional projection and interaction
with the immediate physical environment. Since most players tend to play
the instrument regardless of curvature at about a 50-60 degree angle, sound
will project from the root end and react with a slightly different
environment in both cases. Also, due to the fact that what we hear is sound
being eminated from various parts of the instrument, any variation at any of
the emination points (what lies immediately in front of the sound emination
point and its absorbant and reflective qualities) will create a
corresponding tonal alteration. That being said, the tonal characteristic
will appear to be different. However, does the curve or lack of create an
inherant tonal difference within the vibrating column inside the instrument
or not? I suppose there is machinery to measure that.
The thing that I am curious about is why it matters. What quality do you
attach to the tonal nature of the curved root end or the straight root end?
With respect to the curve in the root end, madake tends to grow off the main
root runner on a slight angle. As the bamboo pokes out of the ground it
grows sunward thus giving many shoots the characteristic curve in the root
end. Of course, the location and relative orientation to perpendicular
that the root runner lies at will determine curvature to a great extent.
This is why many makers favour take that grows on a south-east face in
relatively dense soil.
I'm not sure that I satisfyingly answered your question, but maybe I opened
a door or two.
all the best,
jeff cairns
----- Original Message -----
From: "shakuhachi" <shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu>
To: <shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu>
Sent: Sunday, October 26, 2003 7:48 PM
Subject: shakuhachi V1 #433
> shakuhachi Sun, 26 Oct 2003 Volume 1 : Number
433
>
> In this issue:
>
> Acoustic / Tonal attributions of Root-end curvature of a
Shakuhachi
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Sun, 26 Oct 2003 18:39:28 +0800 (HKT)
> From: Tsunhin John Wong <thjwong@hkusua.hku.hk>
> To: shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu
> Cc: thjwong@hkucs.org
> Subject: Acoustic / Tonal attributions of Root-end curvature of a
Shakuhachi
> Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.4.10.10310261835040.18610-100000@hkusua>
>
> hi,
>
> I received information from a shakuhachi maker that the curve at
> the root-end of a shakuhachi meant only an aesthetical purpose but have
> no effect on the tonal/acoustic property of a shak. However, some of my
> friends told me that they feel a tonal difference while playing shak with
> a root-end curve and then shifting to one without a root-end curve
> Can anyone give me some idea regarding the subject?
>
> - john
>
> ------------------------------
>
> End of shakuhachi V1 #433
> *************************
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