Yoga, Shakuhachi and Compassion
Seated Buddha at the entrance of Synergy Yoga.
I started out Thanksgiving day with an early morning yoga class with my life partner. I’m lucky to have someone I can share a path with in this brief moment in time. I often think how lucky I am even when we have our biggest brawls (which happens to be about art!). But, Thanksgiving day’s yoga class helped me see the fragility of every moment and I left the class appreciating life more than ever. The class was taught by a long time practitioner of the Baron Baptiste heated yoga style. She often shares some of her life stories as inspiration to help us through the challenging poses. On that day the class became intimate with a very personal issue, the precarious state of her marriage. Many people do not share this kind of information freely, and especially not in a public manner (she even managed to infuse the subject with her usual, good natured humor). In doing so, it challenged us to step up to the plate. Yoga is not only a health practice, but can involve a practical philosophy based on compassion. Good teachers practices what they preach. In essence, her story was about compassion and the challenge of being able to forgive as that’s one of the biggest challenges for the ego to overcome. I for one, greatly appreciated her leadership. I often think about some of my shakuhachi teachers and what they choose to impart - how a bamboo flute can make the world a better place, if we want it badly enough.
In gratitude,
Perry
Autumn Shakuhachi
Photo by Barney Quinn
Hello friends, I’d like to share a piece of shakuhachi music I wrote for this morning’s practice. It’s called Autumn. The piece was influenced by this photo taken by a dear friend who has been using his photography practice as a way of coping with some of life’s curveballs. I had been receiving Barney’s weekly photos for sometime now and was always stuck by the technical beauty of each photo at first. Then, as I pondered each one, I always got a sense of that unnameable X factor - that thing that makes a piece of work compelling, that thing that makes something art (The photo obviously needs to be seen larger than it is here).
Autumn is dedicated to Barney and anyone who may find life challenging at the moment. If you have time, please join me. I recorded with a 1.8 EARTH Model shakuhachi:
Happy Birthday Shakuhachi
Hi all, Have you ever wanted to play Happy Birthday on the shakuhachi? It’s a friend’s birthday today so I decided to dedicate my morning practice to him. I wrote this notation based on the Dokyoku style of Watazumi as I understand it through my teacher Kinya Sogawa.
Hear it now!
Recording Dragon VS Eagle CD
Just wrapped a two day recording of Fred Ho’s latest CD Dragon Vs Eagle - a futuristic, Kung Fu, Jazz fantasy, radio play. The mic collection at System Two Studios in Brooklyn is amazing. I was told that one of the mics pictured here belongs to John Coltrane. I was working as an actor playing Wong Fei Hung, the legendary Kung Fu master who led revolts against the “White Barbarians” and other foreign invaders into China. When Fred heard me playing shakuhachi during a break, he asked me to record on one of the tracks!
Last week of Angels of Swedenborg performances this week. See the latest review here: http://culturebot.net/2011/11/11635/ping-chongs-angels-of-swedenborg-at-la-mama/
New Shakuhachi for sale and a Cup Rack for 1st Grade.
Sometimes these little buggers are hard to see. After a cleaning, it peeped right out. This one came from a friend in Canada. Some may say it has a shy voice. I prefer to think if it as soft spoken but carries a big stick 
The experienced Uchi Buki player (inside blowing) would have great conversations with it.
It’s been quite a haul with Ping Chong’s Angels of Swedenborg. We started rehearsal in September and had performances out of town. Now there’s two more weeks at La MaMa E.T.C. in New York City. Buy tickets here: Now Paying at La MaMa!
We’ve had some great houses and press. See this recent critical review: http://www.edgenewyork.com/?125415
”...“Angles of Swedenborg” is not to be missed, as it is a seamless synthesis of all the elements.”
It’s been hectic the last few months with performances, the street festival workshop, repairs and commissions. On top of all that, I’ve also been invited to do a shakuhachi making workshop at Washington College on November 29th. It’s private but may be open for those who may just want to sit in and just watch. I’ll have more details later. When it rains, it pours, in a good way .
Also, since the show opened last week, I was able to finish some flutes I had on the work bench for some time. See the shop for some new instruments available now: http://yungflutes.com/shop/category/shakuhachi_for_sale
There’s a few more that will come up in the next few days. If you are looking for a Tensei 1.8 (either Jinashi or Jiari) let me know ASAP.
The Block Party was amazing.
My dear friend Anca shot this video with my two shakuhachi making apprentices. I made 6 flutes in two hours!
10/16:
Hi All, If you’re free on this beautiful day, come on down to East 4th St from 1-6pm to party with us! There will be an official naming of East 4th St. (between 2nd Ave and Bowery) as Ellen Stewart Way. I’ll be making shakuhachi and story telling for children of all ages between 2-4pm. There are other activities such as an arts and crafts table, hula dancing, Lei flower necklace making, mask masking and much more, including live performances by original La MaMa artists the Blue Man Group and others!
Sanya for My Friend
This is the set of the Ping Chong’s Angels of Swedenborg. It contains 600 pounds of white feathers signifying heaven. I play an Angel in this production. It’s a wonderful feeling, dancing on feathers. I wish that everyone could have this experience.
Today, I dedicate my morning shakuhachi practice to a dear friend whose mother is passing. I haven’t played Sanya - Three Valleys - in a while and I felt this piece may be a good offering. The imagery I use for Sanya - being atop a high mountain looking down upon rivers and valleys - has always brought me peace.
It is played on a 2.3 Earth Model, not a perfect instrument, not a perfect recording… not a perfect world. But, I hope that we can all somehow find peace while we are here. And when our time is up, perhaps there is a cloud of feathers waiting for us to waltz upon.
A long and deep bow of gratitude to all our mothers.
Sanya for My Friend
This is the set of Ping Chong’s Angels of Swedenborg. It contains 600 pounds of white feathers signifying heaven. I play an Angel. It’s a wonderful feeling, dancing on feathers. I wish that everyone could have this experience.
Today, I dedicate my morning shakuhachi practice to a dear friend whose mother is passing. I haven’t played Sanya - Three Valleys - in a while and I felt this piece may be a good offering. The imagery I use for Sanya - being atop a high mountain looking down upon rivers and valleys - has always brought me peace.
It is played on a 2.3 Earth Model, not a perfect instrument, not a perfect recording… not a perfect world. But, I hope that we can all somehow find peace while we are here. And when our time is up, perhaps there is a cloud of feathers waiting for us to waltz upon.
A long and deep bow of gratitude to all our mothers.