Monday, June 1, 2009
Shakuhachi Beat closing down.
Heya folks. Shakuhachi Beat is closing down. Grab any pics you'd like right now. I'll keep it up for another 2 or 3 weeks but then it is gone. Peace, Chris
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
The Shaku-OUCHY Forum and other tails, February 2009
For those of you coming here in search of answers as to why the Shakuhachi Forum is on hiatus, I have absolutely no inside news. :) They say it well enough themselves on their new homepage.
Hopefully they will be back in full swing as of the first week of March.
Using the Papal "We" ... _we_ have to remember as members of forums and mailing lists that these sites exist for recreational and educational purposes ... at the pleasure of the people who host them. These sites were never designed nor intended as free-for-alls for sectarian bickering, pissing matches or unabashed self-promotion. That's what USENET is for.
Unfortunately, I think (and I don't know) that Shakuhachi Forum has become a very high maintenance item for its owners.
My fear is that it may be more trouble than it is worth.
If it isn't staying ahead of the game technically with service providers and Web site security issues like spammers (or worse), it is time consuming and energy sapping playing referee to warring members and strident idealogues.
Certainly I couldn't give it the time and energy it needs. I can barely keep a single blog updated once a month. (See my posting before this one with a personal note on that.)
I would very much hate to see Shakuhachi Forum go. You may be able to dictate _with_ common sense (and the 'benevolent dictators' of the Shakuhachi Forum have done a pretty good and thankless job of that) BUT, you cannot dictate common sense itself.
The USENET term Eternal September refers to "continuously degraded standards of discourse and behavior" in Web newsgroups and on forums. Let's hope this is not an Eternal February for Shakuhachi Forum.
Shakuhachi Forum and the the Shakuhachi Mailing List have been vital in allowing sincere students and enthusiasts a place to communicate across borders. Even when the forums suck or the members suck or the economy sucks, these places on the Web do and will enhance the long tradition of shakuhachi just by being there. Temporary burps, starts and restarts notwithstanding.
I encourage people to make comments here to share their thoughts and ideas.
Perhaps Shakuhachi Forum needs to go subscription, five bucks a month to a PayPal account. A percentage of the proceeds can go to a bamboo grove preservationist group in Japan or to buy a sandwich for a starving gray whale.
Perhaps screening prospective members DNA samples ...
No, wait. Scratch that.
-30-
Hopefully they will be back in full swing as of the first week of March.
Using the Papal "We" ... _we_ have to remember as members of forums and mailing lists that these sites exist for recreational and educational purposes ... at the pleasure of the people who host them. These sites were never designed nor intended as free-for-alls for sectarian bickering, pissing matches or unabashed self-promotion. That's what USENET is for.
Unfortunately, I think (and I don't know) that Shakuhachi Forum has become a very high maintenance item for its owners.
My fear is that it may be more trouble than it is worth.
If it isn't staying ahead of the game technically with service providers and Web site security issues like spammers (or worse), it is time consuming and energy sapping playing referee to warring members and strident idealogues.
Certainly I couldn't give it the time and energy it needs. I can barely keep a single blog updated once a month. (See my posting before this one with a personal note on that.)
I would very much hate to see Shakuhachi Forum go. You may be able to dictate _with_ common sense (and the 'benevolent dictators' of the Shakuhachi Forum have done a pretty good and thankless job of that) BUT, you cannot dictate common sense itself.
The USENET term Eternal September refers to "continuously degraded standards of discourse and behavior" in Web newsgroups and on forums. Let's hope this is not an Eternal February for Shakuhachi Forum.
Shakuhachi Forum and the the Shakuhachi Mailing List have been vital in allowing sincere students and enthusiasts a place to communicate across borders. Even when the forums suck or the members suck or the economy sucks, these places on the Web do and will enhance the long tradition of shakuhachi just by being there. Temporary burps, starts and restarts notwithstanding.
I encourage people to make comments here to share their thoughts and ideas.
Perhaps Shakuhachi Forum needs to go subscription, five bucks a month to a PayPal account. A percentage of the proceeds can go to a bamboo grove preservationist group in Japan or to buy a sandwich for a starving gray whale.
Perhaps screening prospective members DNA samples ...
No, wait. Scratch that.
-30-
Personal note to Shakuhachi Beat readers
If there are any left, that is.
I have been away from the blog the past two months mainly due to greatly increased work duties at my newspaper due to lay-offs, rescheduling and now furloughs (mandatory time off, unpaid, of course). The newspaper biz is in a terrible state due to the crumbling housing market and the sputtering automobile market, not to mention the collapse of classified ads due to eBay and craigslist -- and not to mention a worldwide banking and investment system run by a bunch of thieves and crooks.
So. With that out of the way, I want to apologize to anyone who bothered coming back around. Blogging should really be a daily activity. I've never quite got the hang of making short, informal blog postings, aside from the "Shakuhachi Watch" postings. Instead I opt for long-winded, well-or-ill thought out diatribes.
I hope to get back to more meaningful reflections and transparent stumbles about my being a student of shakuhachi: the joys, the pitfalls, the agony, the ecstasy, and so on. Now onto a new post.
-30-
I have been away from the blog the past two months mainly due to greatly increased work duties at my newspaper due to lay-offs, rescheduling and now furloughs (mandatory time off, unpaid, of course). The newspaper biz is in a terrible state due to the crumbling housing market and the sputtering automobile market, not to mention the collapse of classified ads due to eBay and craigslist -- and not to mention a worldwide banking and investment system run by a bunch of thieves and crooks.
So. With that out of the way, I want to apologize to anyone who bothered coming back around. Blogging should really be a daily activity. I've never quite got the hang of making short, informal blog postings, aside from the "Shakuhachi Watch" postings. Instead I opt for long-winded, well-or-ill thought out diatribes.
I hope to get back to more meaningful reflections and transparent stumbles about my being a student of shakuhachi: the joys, the pitfalls, the agony, the ecstasy, and so on. Now onto a new post.
-30-
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
SHAKUHACHI WATCH DEC. 16: Hard Times and New Deals
Mujitsu Shakuhachi had a great sale going with 20% off for a couple of weeks. If you are looking for a fine handmade shakuhachi worthy of Watazumi, Okuda, Kiku Day, Chikuzen Gould, Tairaku Ritchie or, even Joe the Plummer -- give Ken a buzz. He may have even extended his sale. Throw in a fifth of Bombay Sapphire and you never know what may happen! http://www.mujitsu.com/instock.html
From Perry Yung on eBay: A great buy in a Japanese bamboo 1.8 for $300:
http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-1-8-JAPANESE-SHAKUHACHI-FLUTE-TENSEI-PERRY-YUNG_W0QQitemZ130274338015QQihZ003QQcategoryZ10183QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
1.7 shakuhachi are really nice for solo and folk playing. A little more compact and a brighter sound than a 1.8. This one is of Perry's own make and priced very low. Beautiful looking bamboo. Traditional nodal placement. A deal!
http://cgi.ebay.com/NICE-1-7-EARTH-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE-by-PERRY-YUNG_W0QQitemZ140284597622QQihZ004QQcategoryZ10183QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262'
Another hard to beat deal is this '50s vintage Seikado 1.8. No cracks. Legendary maker. It's quite underpriced as is, but make a respectable offer on it and you may get it!
http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-SEIKADO-1-8-JAPAN-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE_W0QQitemZ140278353139QQihZ004QQcategoryZ10183QQtcZphotoQQcmdZViewItemQQ_trksidZp1742.m153.l1262
I rarely if ever recommend eBay shakuhachi except Perry Yung's because Perry's work is always reliable, good quality, well-priced and has a great guarantee. This one I actually auditioned for a friend and I really liked it. It's made by a now dead but prolific maker in the 40s and 50s and 60s by the name of Shugetsu. This is a nice 1.8 that Perry retuned. Owned by a well-respected and trustworthy member of the Shakuhachi Forum. Very nice original, rounded, thin rattan on the joint. I really don't think it needs the binding on the root. Very nice sound. Make Bob an offer.
http://cgi.ebay.com/1-8-SHU-GETSU-SHAKUHACHI-Key-of-D-50-YEARS-OLD_W0QQitemZ220313592835QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item220313592835&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=66%3A2%7C65%3A10%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318
Of course, lots of people selling good shakuhachi at great prices on Shakuhachi Forum's Buy/Sell/Trade section. http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewforum.php?id=22
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
TWO WEEK 20% OFF TAIMU SALE!!
First ever TWO WEEK 20% OFF TAIMU SALE!!
Friday November 28th until Friday, December 12th.
After your Thanksgiving turkey, (or Thursday dinner for those outside the US), order any Mujitsu Taimu Shakuhachi at a 20% discount. If you've had your eye on one this is the time to order! Choose from flutes IN STOCK or contact me for other unlisted Taimu available. Offer good for two weeks until Friday, December 12th. "Gobble, gobble!"
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Chikuzen Shakuhachi Workshop in San Francisco Nov. 19-22
Michael Chikuzen Gould will be in San Francisco and available for private lessons from Nov. 19~22 at Karl Young's house. There will also be a workshop on sat. the 22nd from 12:00 pm~ 5:00pm. The workshop will focus on sound production with explanation of how to make different types of sounds depending on the type of music (different schools honkyoku vs. Sankyoku vs. Minyo, etc.). We will learn some songs in the process of illustrating this. This will lead into a discussion of "good practice habits". I'm also open for requests at this time.
Contact me or Karl for more information or registration. 313-600-2610
Karl's address: 172 Parker Ave. #303 SF 94115
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Shakuhachi Forum Practices No-Zen
"One shakuhachi, aged and roasted if you please, but hold the
HBIUHG*IBUT&TUYBIUB*YUGYTFFV*^&^F VF TFVUHGVHGHGHVFIYUT IGY"
The ji-gnashing, hair-pulling and egghead-butting on the "HBIUHG*IBUT&TUYBIUB*YUGYTFFV*^&^F VF TFVUHGVHGHGHVFIYUT IGY forums" (aka the ZEN forums) at Shakuhachi Forum appear to be over and out, at least for the foreseeable future.
"Zen and Buddhism in Shakuhachi" and "Random Zen, Religion and Philosophy" have been locked down and any thread or topic in miscellaneous forums that starts pontificating, I mean, discussing the dreaded "Z" word are getting locked down as well.
Forum chiefs have even gone to the funny and frankly brilliant length of having the word-salad "HBIUHG*IBUT&TUYBIUB*YUGYTFFV*^&^F VF TFVUHGVHGHGHVFIYUT IGY" auto-substituted for the word "zen" throughout all of the forum posts.
Too much friction between upstart free-thinkers, no-thinkers, know-it-all thinkers, ad nauseum posters and at least one intractable topic moderator seems to be the cause.
Shakuhachi Forum Chief Brian Tairaku Ritchie boils it down to this: "The problem is that instead of practicing honkyoku (sacred shakuhachi music) and absorbing the ("Z" word) that way, they feel the need to talk and argue about it."
Of course the collateral damage falls to the many forum members who are quite harmlessly spiritually seeking with their flutes and get caught up in the cross-fire. (Rats, I'm mixing too many metaphors here, but you get the hologram, don't you?)
Rabid territorialism and triumphalist sectarianism are no strangers to Buddhism in general, especially on the Internet. Old Usenet Buddhist forums, Tricycle Magazine's failed "discussion" forum, among others, have all succumbed to petty sectarian bickering, flagrant name-calling and, yes, even threats of physical violence. Buddhists acting badly. "I guess that's why we need the practice," says one Buddhist forum survivor
Even the Internet forum known as E-sanga
has closed down it's Soto Zen forum.
In the meantime, Shakuhachi Forum presses on. Back to sharing information about the rich heritage, repertoire and forms of one of the most beautiful and complex musical instruments in the history of humankind.
... Kind of dull, ain't it?
HBIUHG*IBUT&TUYBIUB*YUGYTFFV*^&^F VF TFVUHGVHGHGHVFIYUT IGY"
The ji-gnashing, hair-pulling and egghead-butting on the "HBIUHG*IBUT&TUYBIUB*YUGYTFFV*^&^F VF TFVUHGVHGHGHVFIYUT IGY forums" (aka the ZEN forums) at Shakuhachi Forum appear to be over and out, at least for the foreseeable future.
"Zen and Buddhism in Shakuhachi" and "Random Zen, Religion and Philosophy" have been locked down and any thread or topic in miscellaneous forums that starts pontificating, I mean, discussing the dreaded "Z" word are getting locked down as well.
Forum chiefs have even gone to the funny and frankly brilliant length of having the word-salad "HBIUHG*IBUT&TUYBIUB*YUGYTFFV*^&^F VF TFVUHGVHGHGHVFIYUT IGY" auto-substituted for the word "zen" throughout all of the forum posts.
Too much friction between upstart free-thinkers, no-thinkers, know-it-all thinkers, ad nauseum posters and at least one intractable topic moderator seems to be the cause.
Shakuhachi Forum Chief Brian Tairaku Ritchie boils it down to this: "The problem is that instead of practicing honkyoku (sacred shakuhachi music) and absorbing the ("Z" word) that way, they feel the need to talk and argue about it."
Of course the collateral damage falls to the many forum members who are quite harmlessly spiritually seeking with their flutes and get caught up in the cross-fire. (Rats, I'm mixing too many metaphors here, but you get the hologram, don't you?)
Rabid territorialism and triumphalist sectarianism are no strangers to Buddhism in general, especially on the Internet. Old Usenet Buddhist forums, Tricycle Magazine's failed "discussion" forum, among others, have all succumbed to petty sectarian bickering, flagrant name-calling and, yes, even threats of physical violence. Buddhists acting badly. "I guess that's why we need the practice," says one Buddhist forum survivor
Even the Internet forum known as E-sanga
has closed down it's Soto Zen forum.
In the meantime, Shakuhachi Forum presses on. Back to sharing information about the rich heritage, repertoire and forms of one of the most beautiful and complex musical instruments in the history of humankind.
... Kind of dull, ain't it?
Saturday, August 16, 2008
"Who could play shakuhachi better?"
I'm trying to take a poll on Shakuhachi Forum at
http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?pid=16080#p16080
Who do you think would play better shakuachi?
1. Batman (Christian Bale) or
2. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) ???
http://shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?pid=16080#p16080
Who do you think would play better shakuachi?
1. Batman (Christian Bale) or
2. Iron Man (Robert Downey Jr.) ???
Thursday, August 7, 2008
New Push-Button All-Ryu Shakuhachi!
"The Shakuhachi Hero of the Shakuhachi World"
shown here with the Deluxe Push-Button Shika-no-Tone
and optional B-52 Ro toggle switch.
(Pictured with Tozan-ryu button selected):
Click for Larger Image Also available with the following exciting options:
The Sub-Ryu Magic Mixer Mojo Pedal!
For Jin Nyodo you'd press down Myoan, Real Myoan and Kinko simultaneously.
For Brian Ritchie's Tairaku-ryu, you'd press down the same plus Watazumi, then add some Aoki Reibo II Chorus-Fuzz Fusion with the pedal. (Either that or you do something simple like reinvent shakuhachi music in the West.)
... And we are in the course of developing a new Minyo Bobble-Head option to aid in delivering those pesky long vertical yuri effects that Yoshizawa Masakazu-sensei was so fond of teaching.
shown here with the Deluxe Push-Button Shika-no-Tone
and optional B-52 Ro toggle switch.
(Pictured with Tozan-ryu button selected):
The Sub-Ryu Magic Mixer Mojo Pedal!
For Jin Nyodo you'd press down Myoan, Real Myoan and Kinko simultaneously.
For Brian Ritchie's Tairaku-ryu, you'd press down the same plus Watazumi, then add some Aoki Reibo II Chorus-Fuzz Fusion with the pedal. (Either that or you do something simple like reinvent shakuhachi music in the West.)
... And we are in the course of developing a new Minyo Bobble-Head option to aid in delivering those pesky long vertical yuri effects that Yoshizawa Masakazu-sensei was so fond of teaching.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Shakuhachi Watch, August 1: A Tsunami of Taimu ...and more Divine Provenance from Perry
Five new shakuhachi from Ken LaCosse's Mujitsu Shakuhachi
http://www.mujitsu.com/instock.html
Four Taimu and one Mujitsu: 2.9 (F++), 2.5 (G/G#), 2.3 Club (G#), a 2.0 (B) and a 1.45 (F) Mujitsu
Here's the Newest Club ("Don't Leave Home Without It")
Taimu 2.3 (G#)
"This Taimu is made from an extrememly dense, solid piece. Heavy. Very wide for a 2.3. (Tuned to G#) An exceptional player with a foghorn glow and penetrating tone.
... This flute is for you if you are looking for a heavy club that is the best of the bunch."
http://www.mujitsu.com/instock.html
---
Perry Yung of Yungflutes.com is putting up a shakuhachi for a friend on the Shakuhachi Forum that has some interesting modern history:
SHINZAN 1.8 (D) Owned by YOKOYAMA KATSUYA
http://www.shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=2663
Also see Perry's new eBay offerings:
A Tensei 1.8 in C#
http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-1-8-AUTHENTIC-MONKS-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE_W0QQitemZ130241709525
Chikusing 2.4 (A) (With my favorite utaguchi inlay, Sogawa, named after Perry's shakuhachi-making sensei)
http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-2-4-CHIKUSING-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE-Perry-Yung_W0QQitemZ130242865785
Chikusing 1.8 in C (Pretty WIDE bore, there!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/CHIKUSING-Model-1-8-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE-Perry-Yung_W0QQitemZ130239977139QQihZ003
And a host of really fine older shakuhachi, including two excellent looking and sounding Chikusen Tamai 1.8s: http://stores.ebay.com/Zen-Shakuhachi-Bamboo-Flutes
http://www.mujitsu.com/instock.html
Four Taimu and one Mujitsu: 2.9 (F++), 2.5 (G/G#), 2.3 Club (G#), a 2.0 (B) and a 1.45 (F) Mujitsu
Here's the Newest Club ("Don't Leave Home Without It")
Taimu 2.3 (G#)
"This Taimu is made from an extrememly dense, solid piece. Heavy. Very wide for a 2.3. (Tuned to G#) An exceptional player with a foghorn glow and penetrating tone.
... This flute is for you if you are looking for a heavy club that is the best of the bunch."
http://www.mujitsu.com/instock.html
---
Perry Yung of Yungflutes.com is putting up a shakuhachi for a friend on the Shakuhachi Forum that has some interesting modern history:
SHINZAN 1.8 (D) Owned by YOKOYAMA KATSUYA
http://www.shakuhachiforum.com/viewtopic.php?id=2663
Also see Perry's new eBay offerings:
A Tensei 1.8 in C#
http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-1-8-AUTHENTIC-MONKS-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE_W0QQitemZ130241709525
Chikusing 2.4 (A) (With my favorite utaguchi inlay, Sogawa, named after Perry's shakuhachi-making sensei)
http://cgi.ebay.com/GREAT-2-4-CHIKUSING-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE-Perry-Yung_W0QQitemZ130242865785
Chikusing 1.8 in C (Pretty WIDE bore, there!)
http://cgi.ebay.com/CHIKUSING-Model-1-8-SHAKUHACHI-BAMBOO-FLUTE-Perry-Yung_W0QQitemZ130239977139QQihZ003
And a host of really fine older shakuhachi, including two excellent looking and sounding Chikusen Tamai 1.8s: http://stores.ebay.com/Zen-Shakuhachi-Bamboo-Flutes
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