Hi,
I have not really noticed the difference between western trained and
native, but I have noticed a distinct tonal and control difference
between high level players and "the rest of us" (where I am sitting at
the bottom:-( )
But you raise an interesting point on both technical and cultural
levels.
>>If I recall correctly, this has to do, in part, because the speaking
organs (mouth, throat, muscles, ligiments, etc.) are shaped by the
unique pronounciations of a particular language.
I just received "Extract of Master techniques for shakuhachi"
http://www.shakuhachi.com/PG-Koga-Extract.html , as I have an interest
in the wider aspect of instrument design and the physiology of playing
music. Koga-san goes into detail on exactly these issues (body posture,
lips, tongue, soft palete, throat, breathing, visualisation, qi/ki
leading...) , as well as some wider mind/body/spirit aspects of playing
that I see as synergising with internal martial arts practices such as
Tai Chi. http://www.kotodama.net/shakuhachi/tips.html also expound on
some of these physical aspects of shaping sound (ex: imagine you are
holding a ping pong ball in your mouth"), but Koga-san takes it deeper I
think. Quite possible your point of physical language characterists may
translate into easier acquisition of these more advanced techniques, but
I don't know. Sounds like a job for an academic.
However I think you have to take this sort of knowledge in stages/layers
as it takes time to build up internal/external body awareness to such a
fine degree. Practicing Tai Chi or Yoga regularly would be one way to
accelerate this (cross training).
http://www.fides.dti.ne.jp/~sogawa/taijishakupage1.htm also has some
notes on Taijiquan and shakuhachi.
The Big book of Tai Chi
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0007130902/002-0727642-903
1207?v=glance and Energy Medicine in Therapeutics and Human Performance
http://www.energyresearch.bizland.com/id10.html also might be of
interest to people who want to study this in a wider context.
I also just received http://www.shakuhachi.com/SM-Taniguchi.html , which
blew me away (pun intended:-)
Notes from Honshirabe that may be relevant to your Q:
"remember that "hin" also refers to "honnin no kyoku" which means "one's
own song". It would be strange to always imitate someone else's voice
when speaking. The same goes for shakuhachi. In playing this piece, take
an active mental approach and create your own song and distinctive
voice. On the other hand, while diligent practice of basic techniques in
a strict regimen can be very demanding, a commitment to such practice
places one on the road to freedom."
My 0.2 cents...
Chrz,
pc
-----Original Message-----
From: shakuhachi [mailto:shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu]
Sent: Wednesday, 30 June 2004 9:49 AM
To: shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu
Subject: shakuhachi V1 #622
shakuhachi Tue, 29 Jun 2004 Volume 1 :
Number 622
In this issue:
Do Westerners Have a Shakuhachi Accent?
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Tue, 29 Jun 2004 19:00:35 -0400
From: "Brian Miller" <ramasita@peoplepc.com>
To: <Shakuhachi@communication.ucsd.edu>
Subject: Do Westerners Have a Shakuhachi Accent?
Message-ID: <000c01c45e2c$e6627280$305179a5@lanc.thmulti.com>
When I listen to shak recordings made by various performers, it seems
that the Japanese players sounds more traditionally Japanese than
Western performers. Even those Westerners who have studied in Japan with
Japanese
teachers seem to speak a subtle, but different sound language. Is this
my
imagination, or does it simply demonstrate my lack of sensitivity? I
know that unless learned at a very young age, most second language
speakers have an accent - no matter how long they have been speaking
their second language. If I recall correctly, this has to do, in part,
because the speaking organs (mouth, throat, muscles, ligiments, etc.)
are shaped by the unique pronounciations of a particular language. By
the age of 6 or 7 these
organs are already pretty much molded. Could it be that the Japanese
language translates in an indirect way into the sounds blown with the
shakuhachi via the physical characterists of the native speaker?
Am I way off based, or have other's speculates similarly?
Cheers,
Brian
------------------------------
End of shakuhachi V1 #622
************************* _____________________________________________
List subscription information is at:
http://communication.ucsd.edu/shaku/listsub.html
_____________________________________________
List subscription information is at:
http://communication.ucsd.edu/shaku/listsub.html
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : Wed Feb 23 2005 - 15:42:32 PST