--- Tuscia-Falconer <falconer@enternet.co.nz> wrote:
> Hello,
> I am collecting culms, not mandake but a very
> similar bamboo of consistet
> size and for a novice I have had reasonable success
> in getting them to play.
> My question is regarding curing and drying.
Hi.
Monty Levenson's web site shakuhachi.com has pictures
and narrative of his experiences gathering bamboo in
Japan. He harvests in January (Japanese winter) and
heats the bamboo to drive out the sap. Then he dries
the bamboo in the open weather for three years, I
believe. Heating the bamboo removes whatever attracts
the insects to the bamboo, so the insects do not eat
the harvest.
Then Monty makes a flute.
I think this is a long process that I, the customer,
have to pay for. I'm grateful to Monty and other
makers for what they do. If I had to make my own
flutes, I probably would not play.
Regards,
John Baker
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