Composed by Miyagi Michio (b. 1894 - d. 1956), a blind koto teacher in the Ikuta school. The 1929 duet for shakuhachi and koto, Haru no umi (Spring Sea), has proven Baroque-like in its performance practice, for it is often heard played by the violin, with koto or piano accompaniment. Its style equals the French composer Claude Debussy in his most oriental moments
We had our Monthly gathering of the Phoenix AZ Shakuhachi Friends this Saturday, December 3rd at the Scottsdale Neighborhood Arts Place.
There was just a couple of us there this month but we still had a wonderful time. We started working on a new group piece called Hamachidori which translates into English as Song of the Seashore Bird (Plover).
Hamachidori
(Beach Plovers)
Year: 1919
This piece was composed for Shakuhachi by Hirota Rutaro
The words:
On the beach beneath a blue moon night,
birds cry out, searching for their parents.
They emerge from the land of waves.
Their wet wings the color silver.
Such grief from these birds, crying in the dark.
Crossing the sea, seeking their parents.
They disappear into the land of night.
Young beach plovers with silver wings.
The Phoenix AZ Shakuhachi Friends has the great honor of Internationally recognized shakuhachi master and scholar David Wheeler (Kansuke II) providing an all day Shakuhachi workshop.
David will present a basics workshop for everyone, a couple of level-specific mini-classes, and even private lessons.
Saturday December 10th at 7:00 PM at the Scottsdale Neighborhood Arts Place
4425 North Granite Reef Road
Scottsdale, Arizona 85251
Specific start and finish times will be posted shortly. If you’d like to attend please let me know so I can insure we’ve got handouts for you.
> The Shakuhachi is Japan's traditional vertical bamboo flute with five finger holes. It is an ancient instrument, yet due to its versatility, it has a uniquely contemporary appeal with a broad-ranging repertoire that transcends the constricts of time and space. 
wittenberg University and the University of Michigan. Gould is currently based in Cleveland Heights, Ohio where he teaches privately when he’s not touring. Gould has published several Cds and instructional books for teaching shakuhachi. On his latest Cd he is accompanied by Buddhist Shomyo chanting. He has toured extensively in the U.S. and Japan, and is currently teaming up with Chieko and Kuniyasu Iwazaki for a two week concert tour. 
