Does the world need another recording of Tamuke?
Does the world need another recording of Tamuke?
Hello friends...
I am on the planning stages of my next release and already have some pieces I'm excited about. Then I thought about what Honkyoku I would record and the question arose very strongly: why would anybody want to hear yet another version of Honshirabe, Tamuke, etc.? Is that simply the standard by which we "judge" the player?
Am I releasing those recordings so I can "prove" myself a "legitimate" shakuhachi player? Would it be "truer" to keep the Honkyoku for my own personal practice but release only original music? Is recording Honkyoku a form of "selflessness" since you are simply being a vehicle for the Tradition?... but then what's the point of releasing it at all, since the masters have already done it? I'm sure none of us expects our version to be better than Yamaguchi Goro or Hozan Yamamoto!
I counted twenty one versions of Tamuke on my ITunes alone, let alone adding the ones on my cd collection that haven't made it to my computer!
I'd love to hear your points of view about it... without turning it into a fight!
I am on the planning stages of my next release and already have some pieces I'm excited about. Then I thought about what Honkyoku I would record and the question arose very strongly: why would anybody want to hear yet another version of Honshirabe, Tamuke, etc.? Is that simply the standard by which we "judge" the player?
Am I releasing those recordings so I can "prove" myself a "legitimate" shakuhachi player? Would it be "truer" to keep the Honkyoku for my own personal practice but release only original music? Is recording Honkyoku a form of "selflessness" since you are simply being a vehicle for the Tradition?... but then what's the point of releasing it at all, since the masters have already done it? I'm sure none of us expects our version to be better than Yamaguchi Goro or Hozan Yamamoto!
I counted twenty one versions of Tamuke on my ITunes alone, let alone adding the ones on my cd collection that haven't made it to my computer!
I'd love to hear your points of view about it... without turning it into a fight!
Hola amigo,
It funny, I just had a conversation about this last night on a long drive home from a shakuhachi making workshop. While eating a taco from Taco bell, we laughed at the thought that many Americans may actually think its Mexican food.
I think it's great when Westerners (or even contemporary Japanese people) can learn to play honkyoku music well. I think like any other music, it can and should be interpreted once the player owns it. If they don't they will invariable end up like a beef taco from Taco bell, partly filled with oatmeal
As far as being judged, I think you and other good musicians don't have anything to worry about. If the music sounds good, it is good.
I, for one am, would buy a CD of Honkyoku interpretations of Led Zeppelin songs (hint hint)
It funny, I just had a conversation about this last night on a long drive home from a shakuhachi making workshop. While eating a taco from Taco bell, we laughed at the thought that many Americans may actually think its Mexican food.
I think it's great when Westerners (or even contemporary Japanese people) can learn to play honkyoku music well. I think like any other music, it can and should be interpreted once the player owns it. If they don't they will invariable end up like a beef taco from Taco bell, partly filled with oatmeal
As far as being judged, I think you and other good musicians don't have anything to worry about. If the music sounds good, it is good.
I, for one am, would buy a CD of Honkyoku interpretations of Led Zeppelin songs (hint hint)
And talking about untraditional... this is something I just recovered... Recorded and released as a cassette in 1988! This one was dedicated to my sensei John Neptune...
Pla
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Pla
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I have been thinking about this recently as well. I think that if you have something unique to offer in your Tamuke, then you should consider recording it.
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