This last Friday, the 28th of October, 2016, Pacific Northwest shakuhachi lovers as well as those interested in Japanese music in general were treated to a rare concert at the Seattle Asian Art Museum. Many of us were thrilled quite a few months ago at the announcement of this event which would feature some of the world's best shakuhachi players and this night was to prove a delightful one indeed. Featured on this program were Matama Kazushi, Furuyu Teruo, Kakizakai Kaoru, Larry Tyrrell and Koto player, Mitsuki Dazai.
On a beautiful autumn evening, surrounded by the stunning colours of the season, these superb musicians charmed and amazed us with their sounds and techniques. The concert started with " Tabibito no Uta" played by Kakizakai , followed by Matama's performance of
" Takiochi".
The acoustics in this hall were excellent and did not disappoint the audience (close to 100) at all. After these two opening pieces, the stage was now ready for duets with Mitsuki Dazai on the Koto and Feruyu on the shakuhachi, playing Yumeji Modan #1 and #3. The koto and shakuhachi duet were to blend brilliantly in these pieces that simply do not get played nor heard enough outside of Japan. Fortunately, (this all too short series of concerts by these artists) we have the opportunity to hear these now and hopefully in the future again! The lighting in the hall was adequate for higher end cameras and if closer, I might have been able to snap better photos. But the music was my primary reason for sitting in the middle back part of the hall, so alas, these photos were taken from my phone. Pardon the blur and un-professional quality of them, but I'm glad to have been able to do it nonetheless. Below is a photo of the duets Yumeji Modan #1 and #3!
Next on the program was a work by Rando Fukuda and played by the Pacific Northwest's own master, Larry Tyrrell. As amazing musician and shakuhachi player, Larry has also been a dedicated teacher in both the Seattle and Portland areas. I had the privilege of being his student for a time a few years back and learned much from him. This piece was played wonderfully and covered a wide range of tonal qualities!
The piece " Makiri" by Katsuya Yokoyama was next on the program, this played by Matama Kazushi. Again, the tonal colours and range were amazing and further solidified within myself yet another reason I decided to learn and devote part of my life to this incredible flute.
After the sounds from this grand piece settled inside of us, the time had approached for a World Premier piece, composed by Larry Tyrrell. This trio entitled "The Mountains Remain" was simply stunning in it's composition and proved to be satisfying in harmony and depth, making our consonance minded ears and hearts happy.
Hopefully this composition will find it's way on to a CD or recording soon as the world deserves to hear it again and again! This photo is just after it's premier, with Larry Tyrrell on the right off stage, receiving accolades and thanks for this piece.
After a brief intermission, the concert resumed with "Kikyou Gensou Kyoku", performed by Teruo Furuya . Then followed by one of my favourite honkyoku pieces, "San' An", played by Kaoru Kakizakai . Legend has it that komuso, or mendicant Zen Buddhist monks, would play this piece to pregnant women for the safe birth of their children. It is a very well known and wonderful piece of classic Japanese shakuhachi music and this perfomance certainly didn't disappoint. Kakizakai played it with such intensity and sheer poetry that your humble writer and player became gleefully and happily lost in it's tone and eloquence. The honkyoku pieces are my favourites , always will be, and "San'An" will be with us for a thousand more years.
The last piece on the program was the trio "Wadatsumi no Iroko no Miya" by Rando Fukuda and arranged by Tomiko Kojiba. Again, an outstanding trio piece and one that was thought to be the feather in the cap of this concert. This was not the case as we were treated to yet another piece as an encore, this also composed by Larry Tyrrell. Based on "The Twice Married Daughter", this trio is entitled "Bretagne Variations", a North American premier and was yet another delight that didn't disappoint. What a way to round out the evening! We need more shakuhachi concerts like this!!
After the concert, I had the privilege of a brief conversation with these delightful artists and to thank them for their amazing contribution to the shakuhachi, Japanese music and the arts in general. Two years ago I had the fortune to attend the Seattle Matsuri and classes with both Larry Tyrrell and Kaoru Kakizakai as well, allowing me to examine and learn from the inner workings of these world class musicians. I hope to do this again sometime in the future.
The tour by the KSK Trio will continue this Wednesday,
KSK Trio in Portland
and then continuing on to Colorado and California.
If you are able to attend one of these concerts, please do so in support of the artists and also The Japan Foundation.
Many thanks to the musicians and especially my sweetheart Dena who graciously put up with me this last weekend and my love of the shakuhachi and it's world. :-) <3
