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February 05, 2006
1.8 Yung Model Finished!
This week, I finished a Yung Model 1.8. It was 15 months in the making.
I started it then went on theater tour in Vietnam. Then I came home and did a little more work on it, had a baby boy, made a new theater production, went to Hong Kong and collaborated in a modern dance performance and came home just in time for the Xmas rush. After the holidays, when the dust settled, I had a performance free month to just sit, play and listen to this flute.
Tuning a flute the traditional way often puts me in no man's land. After a while. I lose sense of the flute and have to put it away for a few days. The last stages of fine tuning can get really drawn out if I do not work methodically and with clear objectives. Each time I pick up the flute, I need to identfy the weakest note as quickly as possible. Then I take note of it. Next, I play through a few pieces of music. By then, the flute is warm and should be at it's optimal in reponse. I'll then check to see if the weak spot I noted earlier is still the weakest spot. Sometimes it's not so it's very important to play the flute for a while. I then make notes on the next weakest spots. And check them every day in that order.
Somedays, I don't even touch the bore, I just take notes on playing to check to see if the flute is behaving consistently day after day. I need to play the flute for at least half an hour to know that I'm judging the flute at the best of my playing ability.
Even before the flute was finished, I used it to record a soundtrack for a PBS documentary. That was in November 2005, a day before I got on the plane to Hong Kong. I had just gotten to a point where I was really happy with the way it was playing when the phone rang. The editor of the film asked my thoughts on his project and I just picked up this 1.8 since it was sitting in front of me. I played into my cell phone and he said, "Great! Can you give me 8 minutes of this music?!" I only gave him 2 minutes , I think, of this flute and five more minutes of original music from a 2.4 shakuhachi and a Chinese Dizi. I was pressed for time while recording as I had to pack for Hong Kong also. Fortunate for me, the director liked my first takes and used them all on the final edit.
Hear the track on the PBS Documentary.
As each flute is unique within the Jiari parameters, I offer to make adjustments for the player who commissioned it. Since they too are unique.
Sad to see friend go but happy that he's out in the world .
Namaste, Perry
Posted by Perry Yung at February 5, 2006 11:08 PM
Comments
I got to play this flute for a bit at this recital:
http://shakblog.com/?p=44
This was a phenomenal flute that felt really good to play. I thought it was very easy to play and responsive - i'm a new student used to playing on a Yuu model and notes just seemed to pop out better for me.
I was very happy the new owner let me play it as much as he did. Very nice job Perry!
Posted by: Eric at February 6, 2006 09:17 PM