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August 29, 2007
New Rootend Chinese Madake Student 1.8
Hi All, I make a variety of modern Jiari student model 1.8s for traditional Japanese music study. I usually use non root bamboo but I have been starting to use rootend Chinese Madake as an inexpensive entry level shakuhachi. Making Jiari flutes require a lot of time because every centimeter of the bore is worked so that the flute is entirely tuned for timbre, flexibility and pitch through out. Very little is left to the luck of nature. I heard a maker say in Japan, "This kind of shakuhachi making separates the boys from men". I don't entirely agree with this statement. I think Jinashi flute making is just as difficult but less is dependent upon luck of nature. It takes a different kind of skill to make Jinashi. With Jiari, the maker assumes complete responsibility upon the out come of the flute. If it turns out great, the maker gets a great reputation. If it turns out so so, the maker has to work twice as hard to clear his name. It's a very small shakuhachi world.
I fashioned the Nakatsuki joint with the old Komuso style fat rattan wrap sealed in shuai urushi. A hairline crack happened as I was fitting the female end. I added two inlaid rattan bindings also with a thin wash of shuai urushi. You can not see the crack.
Working on the cosmetic is always fun. I was tempted to shave the root more but I know that many like them protruding.
This one took about three months. I am very happy with how it plays. I feel this one plays like a $1,200 Japanese shakuahchi.
The player said he was going to study with Ralph Samuelson in NYC. With that in mind, I made it for for the Kinko style as I understand it having studied with Ralph since 2002. This flute better hold up!
Stay tuned for a sound file!
Peace, Perry
Posted by Perry Yung at August 29, 2007 04:46 PM