Shakuhachi: Sanya

[MountAnalogue]

im pretty sure my shakuhachi broke recently. it just started playing out of key and my embouchure doesnt work all of a sudden. although i cant see a crack in the inner bore and the utaguchi is fine so im not SURE what happened

[bresilienneK2]

... ♥

[MountAnalogue]

beautiful

[cudionelove]

omg. get some of this stuff on your iPod, get suuuuper baked and go look at the stars.

[tattoomagico]

Wow... it got me breathless!

Thank you!

[colemccarren]

3:04 is GODDDDDD oh my goodness...

[squirrelmaster89]

Is shakuhachi traditionally played with the right hand over left? All the pictures i've seen of Komuso playing them seems to support this. I play mine with the left over right. I guess it doesnt matter....

[NinjutsuLives]

I enjoyed this, beautiful performance!

[evilbluebear]

Sanya is my sister's name lol.

[OwnedOver9000]

Beautiful!

[kriakraaw]

The flute = best instrument.

[vuotopiuscuro]

and time stand still - here not so much ..

but with the shakuhachi i had this once or twice

[lijey870804]

It is cool

[edvart00]

this is the same instrument played at naruto check it out people xd just write "shakuhachi naruto"

[imalwayswatchingu00]

shakashuri's are better.

[Runoong1]

very good. try to hear and see nguyenthang'collection of Shakuhachi and bamboo flute

[Rhodezify]

I wish I could get one somewhere, but I doubt I would be able to learn to be this good, EXCELLENT

[pladmd]

The sound of shakuhachi always reminds me of samurai themed animes swinging their swords to each other hahaha :D

[michaelis61]

Very lovely. I was listening to another by you, (the one at duke university) then I clicked to preload this one, it played simultaneiously. Very strange, and in some places AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL::::

Could be the music after a slaughter scene in a Kurusawa film, ravens, corpse robbers....cheers, Michael

[Nyoraku]

Thank you very much for your kind comments. If you wish to pursue shakuhachi, you must find a qualified teacher and begin lessons with him or her. They will guide you in getting an instrument and all else. Gambatte!

[edvart00]

@Nyoraku im not into learinging the instrument but how much time do you think it will take to fully master it ? I play bass guitar and its possible for me to become grade 8 in four years.

[ravan11]

Incredible tone and control! Loved it! What do you recommend for a beginner? Where is a good place to start? And also what Shakuhachi (fundamental note) should a beginner get first?

[Whitelandwarriors09]

Sounds so relaxing and scary? lol

[OwnedOver9000]

Wonderful! I loved every second of your performance! I've started learning the shakuhachi myself. However, my flute sounds deeper than yours. May I ask in what key your flute in this video is? I want one that sounds like yours.

[SammyMelody]

Is it easy to learn for people who never played an instrument?

I would like to learn it.

Btw: How much does a shakuhachi cost?

[journeyfan66]

Wonderful performance James!!!I now have your practice and etude books to add to my playing and learning enjoyment!

[mdevore79]

True Talent.

[AgentVIIXIII]

Great vid Nyoraku. I am just trying to learn the shakuhachi. Got a quick question for you. I bought a cheap one but still seems nice while I am learning. I'm slowly getting it but when I get it it is difficult to keep or get back. I guess I am just asking do you know is there a difference in difficulty to play a cheap one versus a higher quality one or is it just the player? It is made out of bamboo and paid $52 on ebay.

[Nyoraku]

Thank you for the comment. No sorcery, as far as I know, but a good deal of practice.

[danielhall67]

I just started playing Shakuhachi. If I had not tried to play before, and had seen this video, I would not know what to think. But after seeing this... Wow! That must have taken 3 years off your life ha ha! How can your lungs be full of that much air? And... How on earth do you alternate tones like that without moving any fingers. I think playing this instrument is more like a form of sorcery than technical adaptation.

[MemphisDude]

Are you the same dude I talked to after a performance in Hartford with a young Japanese woman on koto who lost a bridge mid-tune?

[kiroilevasiiri]

where i can buy shakuhachi?

[willy1986tralara]

que chulo

[netwaylux]

Whoaw !!!

[Nyoraku]

Thank you for your kind words.

[monkeyeagle]

This is an absolutely WONDERFUL performance!!!! This kind of playing takes many Years of practice! The Shakuhachi has such a simple design,but can be used to create such a wide color palette of sound as this Great Master player illustrates so beautifully here! Thank you sir for sharing your gifts!!!

[Nyoraku]

Sanya is the title of a traditional Zen piece for shakuhachi. For centuries this music was passed down by oral tradition and as a result there are several versions of the piece, usually identified by the area where they were played. This is actually an original piece of mine called "Brooklyn Sanya." I retained the structure that is typical of the traditional pieces - shirabe, honte/takane, hachikaeshi, musubi - and some of the melodic elements, but added a few of my own.

[michaelis61]

@Nyoraku REALLY beautiful, thanks....

[Trevor10]

So, is the piece called Sanya?

[Trevor10]

@Trevor10 or is his name Sanya?

[DeepMindRelaxation]

amazing, wow

[FoodCubes]

How difficult is it to learn how to play the shakuhachi? It is so beautiful and peaceful.

[olgabenitoharp]

I really love the sound of the shakuhachi! I've always loved it (but it's the first time that I see someone playing it)

Really like it!

[oceanwolfspirit]

I absolutely love this instrument. It sound so...peaceful, but it can be mysterious and creepy as well :D

and I love the performance.

[Nyoraku]

@oceanwolfspirit Thank you.

[DizzySaxophone]

some of my favorite sax solos are either shakuhachi inspired or transcriptions.

[unknonvato]

lol this music makes me imagine a samurai coming out of the fog an attacking his enemy

[sisspiros]

wonderfull)

[eldiagrama]

I loved it

[Chad01234]

But...but...he's not Japanese! Seriously though, very nice.

[LOVE2Flute]

Absolutely beautiful performance. I am a better person now for simply listening to this. What a wonderful talent. Play for Peace; Peace-n-Love always, JP

[LOVE2Flute]

So beautiful

[DivingDuckDon]

Truly Wonderful performance! One of the most amazing I have seen. I have been playing ethnic flutes for a few years and enjoy my shakuhachi immensely and videos like this inspire me greatly. Thanks for posting it. You sir are an amazing talent!

[jorentyrell]

beyond amazing!

[jorentyrell]

beyond amazing!

[skabenga101]

What key is it in?

[vampihrqueen]

thank you for uploading these performances. I'm in the middle of doing an essay on japanese music, although mostly Gagaku is what I'm looking at. This really helps me to get a feel for the music. Thanks again.

[999ArchAngel999]

That is the most incredible modern Shakuhachi performance I've seen. Absolutely phenomenal talent.

[Nyoraku]

Thank you very much!

[SetsunaSenshi]

is there a place where i can download this song...?

i'd really appreciate it; it helps me sleep even if it does sound eerie at parts.

but it'd be easier on my ipod instead of keeping my laptop open all night and keeping me awake with all the night.

[Nyoraku]

Hello Setsuna. I'm glad my music helps you sleep. You can download it from iTunes, or many other sites. Enjoy!

[johnnypdeuce]

@SetsunaSenshi go to clipconverter.cc

[Introspection79]

I want to learn to do that...

[WizardOfHumor1989]

@Introspection79 OMG! LOL Me too!

[DwayneBSapling]

Wow!!!!

[Seleuce]

magical!

[mlavik1]

Who is this?

[monsterhit699]

awesome

[lomplan]

build yourself, Alexander!

[AlexanderMahan]

where can i buy one?

[volk551]

It has a very eerie sound...

[FlammingPheonix21]

wow i was entranced...and i like it but its....unique and very beautiful.

[RainyLittleGhost]

I love it.

[seerskater]

i think it sounds sick

[Myokane]

むかつく

[troyanocordobes]

like me so much the traditionals japonese's instruments... the sound, the design, it's so badly and so sad that i live so far away and here i can't buy anything like this. :( .... my congratulations for all musicans than playining this instruments or traying to fussion with contemporanius music

[23Zarell23]

I just got a longitudinal Shakuhachi, it's absolutley beautiful :]

[Wackiavelli]

soulful blowing. thank you

[JABUUTY671]

Sounds like an ocarina

[Nyoraku]

The shakuhachi doesn't sound anything like an ocarina.

[Dalarae]

Indeed, has about NOTHING to do with ocarinas .

[dekdk11]

@Nyoraku the shakuhachi has a cool hollow windy sound. its nice

[Peekingduck]

I would really like to play that well.

Awesome !

[JABUUTY671]

Dang. I had some homework about Music and it was like 15 questions. I finished all of them and noticed that this was still going. This guy can play for a long time...

[kurenaisama]

That's pretty cool 8D

[daewonsongpingpong]

Kind of scary but awesome =]

[loqdhErjD]

すばらしいです。私は日本人ですが、日本の伝統的な楽器を紹介し­て下さって有難うございます。

[mlavik1]

Great! :) Loved this!

Really relaxing listening to this!

I don't know anything about bamboo flutes, but should I buy a 5-hole or 7-hole?

[KVM117]

@mlavik1 5 hole: traditional, standard.

[Rista1989]

Bas lepo svira svaka mu cast komentar iz Srbije...

[Nyoraku]

Thank you for the kind words. Keep playing Shakuhachi!

[morihoriuchi]

You play so good. I've played the myoan style since college and really enjoyed your performance - very professional and well done!

[tomneithlud]

Wow! Wonderful!

[Tolmalion]

Nice,if u like this try Slovakian national instrument called Fujara, basically it`s an bass overtone flute just like Shakuhachi, but it` s over 5ft long.

[ffaizj]

pretty good

[triton2008]

nice.. i thought its a computer first

[danofsydney]

very very good

[DuskY1991]

This is so damn cool :D

[Nyoraku]

Thank you very much.

[ichibadhollow777]

Awesome!! i love this

[patrikahlberg]

Wow, I'm chocked... just so beautiful! You made my day.

Thank you

/Patrik

[singedrac]

Great stuff! I made myself a shakuhachi out of PVC and it's really quite a good instrument but I totally suck at playing it. :D I can only make some basic tones. I really need to practice a hell of a lot more.

[YamiMahoIsiri]

I made one out of PVC too. It really does work well. ^_^

[singedrac]

Mine works great. I just wish I knew how to play it better.

[GrayLeader2184]

Really? How do you do it? I think I have some PVC pipe lying around (my dad's a plumber).

[dimsimlord]

PVC pipe would make for a horrible tone.

[LordStrings7]

Yeah - use PVC for a high Irish whistle, not this!

[Dezaru]

Yeah, a PVC pipe would make a better didgeridoo, not really a flute.

[Lostfaith1980]

Actually I have a PVC shakuhachi. Made for me by a guy in Newyork who makes shakuhachis for a living as well as plays.

It works exactly the same and just as well.

Obviously its not very attractive to look at but since it does the same job its a perfect practice instrument for beginners like myself.

[stochastikos]

beautiful

[ToeiTails]

My favourite wind instrument; touches my soul, is that yourself playing? Excellent performance!

[moogamoogabrat]

me too. that's why i wanted to play the flute. too bad, it's not a shakuhachi though.

[avivagabriel]

This is my (forever) favorite shakahuachi performance of all time. I'm so happy to hear this innovative, brilliant, pioneering performance. I keep returning...

[avivagabriel]

Actually, this is my (forever) favorite SHAKUHACHI performance...

[Nyoraku]

Thank you so much. I truly appreciate your kind words.

[MEGAS1LORD1DEVIN]

5/5

[AllowExpression]

That sounds fairly complex. I know it's a lot to ask for, but a video detailing it would go down very well. That kind of lesson isn't easy to come by over the net, in fact it's probably non-existent, you could be the first. ;]

In any case, thanks for the reply. It's a beautiful instrument and I have no desire to bastardize it, just to hear it played differently. The sounds are beautiful.

[AllowExpression]

Is it possible to produce a full chromatic scale on the shakuhachi?

And if so, how much practice would it take?

[AllowExpression]

If it can produce this kind of scale, I'd love to hear it. I'd really appreciate a recording.

[Nyoraku]

Yes it is possible to play all the chromatic notes of the Western scale on shakuhachi. Some patterns are more challenging than others. It takes the average shakuhachi student six to eight years of weekly lessons with a licensed teacher to become fluent in traditional playing, and perhaps a bit more to incorporate Western playing.

[10jedyny]

Hello sir, i'm a total beginner. Is it really so hard to learn to play this flute? I was thinking : its just couple of holes and combinations...how hard can that be? Why is it so hard?

Thanks and great show, good luck

[Errol246]

How difficult would you say it is to obtain one of these fantastic instruments? I have to own one and learn to play it!

Is it you playing? Very beautiful, I must say :)

[ansonalma]

Masterful creation of Godly music!

[chansherly212]

wow that must take lots of subtle technique and breath control

[mrtobo]

what a beautiful instrument. thanks for the video. nearly left me in tears.

[Nyoraku]

Thank you, I appreciate your kind words.

[miracas]

Thanks for the video! It was nice to hear you. But, I have a question. What´s the size of these Shakuhachi?

Thanks!

[Nyoraku]

Muchas gracias por su commentario tan agaradable. I was playing a 2.1 shakuhachi.

James

[caimancolamocha]

Lo felicito. un muy buen ejemplo de lo que es un verdadero artista contemporaneo sin necesidad de parafarnalia. Un flauta, su aliento, el corazon y un espiritu libre, logran penetrar mas facilmente en el alma de la gente que un centenar de instrumentos ejecutados al mismo tiempo. felicidades!!!

[Nyoraku]

Muchimas gracias por su felicidades.

[dimaobr]

It is sad perfectly

[giljamvidre]

I like this tone.

[thesupermegadude]

I really enjoyed listening to this. Thanks a bunch.

I did some research on the Shakuhachi and the general idea seems to be that it is a really complex and technical instrument.

Would anyone who plays it agree? :)

Cheers

[IsshoBenkyo]

Beautiful! Arigato....

[Wackiavelli]

Thank you, James!

[C0rvus]

I got chills at 1:45.

This is beautiful.

[atm3570]

This is wonderful, why can't we honer and appreciate as opposed to disregard and tearing down. I loved the piece, great job.....

[solomonj827]

Merely honoring and appreciating didn't get this artist to this level of skill. The technique in this piece was very good as far I can tell from my computer speakers, but the content sounds wrong on the shakuhachi.

[paopaopoipoi23]

just a display of technique. no spirit nor mind nor heart

[Nyoraku]

Ouch! Harsh words.

[musgodapedra]

My Life!

It is sure no mind but full of heart and spirit...

paopaopoipoi23 you need to develop and open your spirit...and clean your ear my friend...

Nyoraku, these song have already reverberated some times here in my apartment, and it always catch me out...

yin yang

[Baobabonzai]

where, on youtube, can we find, according to you, an example of how it should be done then?

[netoviski]

omedetou

[carrieunderwood5223]

I know about these insruments because of the insruments that we listen to in music, bingo. Around the world insruments. I love this and the erhu.

[musicartt]

great!!!5******!!!!

[carrieunderwood5223]

VEry wonderful instrument, and I loved it when we were in music class and playing music bingo and i heard this nad loved it, they use it also in a lot of movies.

[HIMOG33]

Brilliant! Wish I could do it.

[lutere]

great:)

[seymen050]

bravo

[stevorulzdaworld]

i agree

[lonelyrider80]

very relaxing music.. congratulations...

[Aaronlime1]

love it may imoogi watchover you

[susanaxmota]

wonderful! domo arigato, from Portugal :)

warm wishes of happiness,

susana

[Nyoraku]

Thank you. I love Portugal and recorded "Cave of Bodhidharma" there. Check it out on my Myspace.Obrigado!

[tigrankalevian]

Fascinating work, sound and performance. Bravo!

[Nyoraku]

Thank you.

[tigrankalevian]

I have a work for flute in my channel ("Evocations"). There are some Japanese atmosphere there. You may be interested to listen.

[Tsukuyomi102594]

not a great sound :/ it was too forced

[Shakuhachidude]

I think your the only guy with that opinion...

[magnagei]

i have to agree, i think it sounds forced

[retaliatorek]

Great :)))

[Suidakkra]

剣道:けんどう,

[razzbairee]

that was beautiful. it feels as though the sounds of the shakuhachi are releasing all sorts of emotion. i can feel it.

[MasamiNatsuka]

wow. I love the sound a shakuhachi makes. It's gorgeous! So unique! He did a very good job!

[swami1337]

this is sparta

jokes aside, nice performance mate.

[benwah3000]

i got 1 i need help useing it!!!!

[febi51]

toccante. femminile e maschile allo stesso tempo.

tantissimi complimenti

[ImpaleUK]

It has a wonderful sound

[shakuras76]

渋み

[brainrf]

James, great job! Wonderful performance.

どうもありがとうございます

[Nyoraku]

Thank you. I appreciate it very much.

[SimonRonin]

this is wonderfull.

[Nyoraku]

Thank you.

[BigBuddha3]

This is Zen.