Katsuya Yokoyama - Zen ( 2 CD )
MP3 | 192 kbps | VBR
Tracklist:
1. Shika No Tone
2. Tsuru No Sugomori
3. Kumoi Jishi
4. San'An
5. Tamuke
6. Yamagoe
7. Hon Shirabe
8. Sagari Ha
9. Hi Fu Mi Hachigaeshi No Shirabe
10. Azuma Jishi
11. San'Ya
12. Shirabe
13. Daha
14. Shingetsu
15. Koku
| “ | Stunningly Beautiful Double Disc of Traditional Japanese Flute Music as Performed by One of the Shakuhachi Discipline's Greatest Living Masters. | ” |
1 Shika No Tone (The distant call of the deer) 鹿の遠音 08'31
This is the most popular pieces of classical Honkyoku played on the Shakuhachi. It is unique in Honkyoku music for the following reasons:
- Most of the classical Honkyoku music originated from religious traditions or rituals, but this piece is an exception - its origins are not religious.
- Honkyoku is generally played by a solo Shakuhachi, but this piece was always intended to be played in two parts.
As the title suggests, it features the mating call of the deer as it is heard during autumn in the picturesque scenery of the mountains.
2 Tsuru No Sugomori (The Cranes nesting) 鶴の巣籠 09'13
Here the family life of the cranes is depicted by various specialized techniques of Shakuhachi playing. As in the case of Shike no Tone, the origins of the piece are not religious.
3 Kumoi Jishi 雲井獅子 03'07
This piece belongs to the category of Hate - a lighter kind of Honkyoku music. It is associated with the Shishimai, a festive dance, and used to be played on festive occasions.
4 San'an 産安 06'07
The Komuso, a priest and Shakuhachi player, played this piece for a pregnant woman as a kind of prayer for her easy delivery.
5 Tamuke (Offering) 手向 04'19
The meaning of Tamuke is an offering to the gods or to the Buddha. This piece is played during the Buddhist service for the dead.
6 Yamagoe (Going over the mountain) 鈴法 03'31
Yamagoe literally means, going over a mountain, and is interpreted in Japanese as, overcoming the most difficult part of a task in some way or other, which is not a perfect accomplishment because of some possible lack of care.
This piece is meant to encourage the overcoming of difficulties.
7 Hon Shirabe 本調 04'11
The Shirabe is played before the beginning of a tune. There are two kinds of Shirabe, one is separate, and the other forms part of another piece. The Shirabe is also used to test a new bamboo instrument (Shakuhachi). The Honshirabe, with its tender beauty, is said to be the best piece of this kind.
8 Sagari Ha 下り葉 (根笹) 03'05
This piece was originally used for the festival of the Shinto Shrine. The authentic Honkyoku style was developed over the centuries by a gradual refinement of the playing.
9 Hi Fu Mi Hachigaeshi No Shirabe (One, two, three, return the bowl) 一二三鉢返の調 09'06
This piece was played by the Komuso or priest expressing his gratitude when he returned the bowl to the house owner after receiving alms.
10 Azuma Jishi 吾妻獅子 02'09
Azuma means East or Eastern Japan. This piece represents nostalgia for the home land by featuring the scenery and folklore of Azuma.
Like Kumoi Jishi it belongs to the category of Hate music.
The Komuso priest played Hate music in the afternoon, when he was free from the strict discipline of religion. Hence the alternative title of the piece Hirukara - Afternoon -.
11 San'ya (Three Valleys) 三谷 06'02
There are various interpretations of the word San-Ya, for instance:
1. The transcription in sound of the Sanscrit word meaning meeting.
2. Mental concentration.
3. Three high-pitched melodies expressing the echo of the sound in three valleys.
This piece is a composition originating from the Fudaiji Temple in Hamamatsu, Central Japan.
12 Shirabe 調 (根笹) 02'26
Like Honshirabe, this is a piece of Shirabe music. It is often played before the Sagari Ha.
13 Daha 打波 03'40
This piece has the purpose of representing self-discipline. A very fast tempo and violent breathing indicate the manifestations of the mind under strict discipline.
14 Shingetsu 心月 06'04
Shingetsu denotes a state of mind resembling clear moonlight.
15 Koku 虚空 10'20
Kokuu means literally sky, but it also has the more profound meaning of the sublimity of the mind. This piece is said to have been composed over seven hundred years ago and is regarded as one of the three oldest classical works of Shakuhachi music.