Learn to play the Shakuhachi: Songs from Fukuda Rando part 2

In this course, we will concentrate on two songs by Fukuda Rando. One song is a duet but can easily be played as a solo piece. As a duet, you will be able to play with more freedom – the accompanist gives more freedom to the soloist in some of the segments.

The other song, Kikyou Gensoukyoku is a solo and you can play it fully and extend some of the notes.

“Ma” is a  Japanese concept of time within the song. It is not counted as the tempo but varies within the song. It could be taken as the perfect timing of playing the phrase and taking a rest between notes. “Ma”　間　 literally means between.

It is theoretically what’s between two notes but it is the ultimate timing that makes or gives the song /melody its essence.

I think by playing the song over and over and listening to interpretation, you will have a feel of what “Ma” is.

We are working on some embellishment that I call Kobushi. this technique is used more in singing Minyo. It is a sort of modulation on some of the notes. It has to be done in a way that it is not too intruding and just feels as if you are playing the simple notes just with some very light flourish. The technique should just be hidden and not in your face.

The “kobushi” and embellishments are usually done very quickly so as not to take away from the melody.

For practice’s sake, you will do them slowly and then try to speed up little by little to master those techniques of embellishment.

These songs are from the early 20th Century and from a post-Romantic movement. The songs have been written with a sense of nostalgia and should be played in a way that you are reminiscing about the past.

So I hope you enjoy playing them and again have fun with them.

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