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SCORES - RECORDINGS
INSTRUCTIONAL AND SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
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A training and performance repertoire for Taimu shakuhachi. 27 compositions of varying difficulty levels designed specifically for large-bore or lower-pitched shakuhachi flutes. However, these pieces can effectively be played on any size or type of shakuhachi or hocchiku to improve breath control, tone, melodic sensibility, or simply to increase repertoire. They are intended to complement any honkyoku or other pieces that you might be studying or playing on the Taimu, shakuhachi, or hocchiku. The primary stylistic inspirations are honkyoku and Mississippi blues, and many of the pieces are simply structured long tones with some melodic shaping. If you have not yet entered the Taimu realm (or the fat flutes are too fat for you), any shakuhachi/hocchiku will work well with these pieces (especially 2.4 or larger), but as Chikuzen Sensei points out, certain flutes fit certain songs, and vice-versa; also the flute/player connection will determine what songs are more appropriate at a given time. These pieces are written as études, or learning pieces, specifically for the large-bore, lower-pitched Taimu shakuhachi flutes. They vary in difficulty level but all of them can be approached slowly or as just a few select phrases that might resonate with your own approach to Taimu. The priority of all of these pieces is to connect your own essence with the breath, the flute and sound. You are participant and observer, adventurer and audience. As Chikuzen Sensei teaches, you are directing the breath on an adventure that you can hear as it unfolds. In my opinion, when a composer purposefully taps into the strengths and tendencies of an instrument, a real synergy in composition / performance can emerge. This was my intention with all of the mukyoku pieces. The emphasis is on strong, sustained notes, slow moving melodies, and deep breathing. The mukyoku series includes 27 pieces of varying length and difficulty (24 solos and 3 duets) divided into three difficulty levels. Recorded versions (CD audio), scores (pdfs), piece descriptions, and instructional materials (notation guide, warm-up exercises, long tone practice guide, embouchure and posture suggestions) are available of the complete series in three parts. Each Level contains 9 compositions of varying length and difficulty. Each Deluxe Print Edition contains heavy card stock prints of each score, folder, cover page, contents, introductory description, and the CD-ROM which is also available by itself. Each Digital Edition is a CD-ROM that contains CD quality (aiff) recordings of each piece for that level; plus pdf files of each score, fingering charts and notation guides, individual piece descriptions (14 pages), stylistic influences description and ratings (6 pages), credits & permission guidelines; and quicktime/wmv files of videos relevant to the Level. Mukyoku: Compositions for Giant Zen Bamboo Flutes on CDBaby!  Taimu and Mukyoku Notation Guide and Fingering Charts 
Questions? Contact Cornelius Boots here.
Questions? Contact Cornelius Boots here. |
Ken LaCosse 415 242-0919 email