first steps of a long journey with long flutes - European Shakuhachi ...

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monastery, 8 o'clock breakfast, at 9.00 starting to build the Shakuhachi….. First we learned to become familiar with the material and the tools. Using a saw and files we made a mouthpiece on a short piece of bamboo. Soon, we could hear that this work had been successful. Surprisingly, many tones could be elicited from these short pipes. Then we had to select our piece of bamboo. Fritz had brought a choice of approx. 50 bamboos. They varied in length and thickness, there were root end and non-root pieces and different types of bamboo. How wonderful to choose from this variety. This was a unique possibility in Europe. After choosing the bamboo, the first job was to make it hollow throughout. We worked from the top and bottom with various tools and a drilling machine, with self-made inserts made by Fritz. The next job was sawing and filing the mouthpiece and the root part. For sawing the mouthpiece Fritz showed us the right angles, and where to cut. For the root part, each person formed it according to their own taste. We worked all day long intensively, but in a quiet and eased atmosphere. The door of the workroom was always open and outside the door a covered area with two big tables offered additional workspace. A big Japanese garden directly adjoined this. It was a gift to enjoy this garden for two days, as comfortable as we would be in our own homes. I felt that magic lies in a garden like this. Every stone, every plant has a very unique charisma which draws attention to itself. It is almost impossible to stop looking. Fascinating. Sunday’s job was drilling the finger holes. First, we drilled our exercise piece and then, with bated breath on our flute. Once the hole is drilled, it is not possible to correct it anymore, at least not in the limited time of a weekend seminar. At home in his workroom, Fritz can repair almost everything. Doing this job started to become rather like a pilgrims way, with different stations: marking the place to drill the hole with Fritz, drilling the hole, burning the walls of the hole with a glowing piece of iron, checking the result with Fritz and if ok, starting again by marking the next hole. If it was not ok, the station of burning had to be repeated. Eight instruments were built, each instrument with five finger holes, 40 times was the pilgrim’s way done, with hope and joy. We built instruments from 1.8 to 2.4 and with every newly drilled hole new tones were born. The workroom and the garden filled more and more with these tones. This was also a very fascinating time, all these tones in these very special surroundings, and everybody enjoying their 30
own instrument. Fritz even had to look for a quiet corner, to check the intonation of the instruments taken to him. The last step was oiling the inside of the bamboo with a rag soaked in oil. Then the instruments were ready for the handing over ceremony. The Ceremony was actually a concert on our newly-built instruments. One piece on each flute was performed by Fritz, dedicated to the flute maker. What a surprise - never had somebody played especially for me. We could hear how wonderfully our instruments can be played. I listened very carefully to every tone of my flute, so as to remember later. If I can’t play like this on my flute, I now know that I can’t blame the flute. I am very grateful for this handing over because doubting the instrument is a big obstacle in the way of practising. This I know from experience. I would also like to thank ShoE for her kindness and for her cooking, Mr. and Ms. Hess for the space provided, and all participants for the beautiful meetings. Also, thanks again to Fritz for the instruction and for passing on his knowledge. Contact: Fritz Nagel, Shakuhachi player and builder since 1983 Schlossstrasse 4, 86485 Markt, Germany www.shakuhachi.info Zazen und Shakuhachi Bauen Erfahrungsbericht von Alfred Lerch Am Wochenende vom 31.8 – 2.9 fand im Kloster Hokuozan Sogenji in Liebenau, Deutschland ein Shakuhachi Bau Seminar statt. Obwohl das Spielen der Shakuhachi der Tradition der Zenklöster entstammt, war dieses Wochenende eine seltene Gelegenheit diese zwei Traditionen zusammen zu erleben. Am frühen Morgen und am Abend hatten wir eine Stunde Zazen mir ShoE, der Leiterin des Klosters. Tagsüber bauten wir unter Anleitung von Fritz Nagel, einem erfahrenen Flötenbauer, eine Shakuhachi. Die Idee und die Organisation zu diesem Wochenende hatte Mario Trinkhaus vom Zen Dojo Tegel, Antai-an. Er kannte das Hokuozan Sogenji und ahnte ganz richtig, das es ein einmalig schönes Erlebnis sein wird, an diesem Ort eine Shakuhachi zu bauen. Von der Schweiz aus hatte ich einen langen Weg vor mir, so startete ich früh morgens um rechtzeitig dort zu sein. Pünktlich um 16 Uhr stieg ich in Liebenau aus dem Bus. Dann kam die grosse Überraschung als ich nach Schloss Eickhof fragte: Ich war in’s falsche Liebenau gereist. Es 31
Page 1 and 2: EUROPEAN SHAKUHACHI SOCIETY Newslet
Page 3 and 4: E.S.S. Summer School 2007 by Adrian
Page 5 and 6: another five years to utilise!). We
Page 7 and 8: At lunchtimes, the trail of cars wo
Page 9 and 10: The E.S.S. AGM was held during the
Page 11 and 12: Yamaguchi performs both pieces on a
Page 13: A Shakuhachi Adventure in Japan by
Page 16 and 17: In the grounds of Sojiji is the gre
Page 18 and 19: Okuda said he had a 2.5 jinashi nob
Page 20 and 21: Après seulement deux leçons, un a
Page 22 and 23: épouse. Je suis heureux de dire qu
Page 24 and 25: Meine Shakuhachi - Reise begann, al
Page 26 and 27: Ich fand einen ruhigen Platz unter
Page 28 and 29: egannen, Koku zu studieren. Okuda s
Page 32 and 33: gibt, wie ich jetzt weiss, mindeste
Page 34 and 35: Fritz Nagel, Shakuhachi Spieler und
Page 36 and 37: centre. Just as I arrived, two peop
Page 38 and 39: amazing sounds, while Vlastislav wo
Page 40: For me, the Prague Summer School wa

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