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August 31, 2007
Red Urushi on a Giant Bore Jinashi Shakuhachi
This super fat Hocchiku came in recently for a lacquer job. There was a tiny bit of the original red urushi on the root opening and at the top behind the utaguchi. The bore was natural - without urushi. I've never seen a flute like this before - old and super fat. I guess at some point, the owner decided to paint urushi on just the ends.
The front of the utaguchi plane and the top of the flute was painted black. Much of it wore off at the top so it was a challenge trying to blend the new urushi with the worn wabi sabi look. I was able to match the red spot on. I let a bit of the original red urushi show through at the top edge because I didn't want to disturb this wonderful aged look
You can see tiny little dots of the original urushi on the top left.
The finger holes were a bit jagged. Nothing like running the fingers over hand crafted work from 100 years ago.
The tricky part of this job was that the red pigment in the urushi extended the polymerization it. It took longer to cure. It turns out that it dries faster when not thinned. This one has three coats but because the first two was super thin, they took longer to cure. Now on it's third coat and final coat. Its near dry.
Again, this flute is an anomaly. I've never seen such a fat old flute. The patina, style of utaguchi inlay and lacquer over the front of the utaguchi tells me it's over 100 years old.
The flute is actually 1.87 in length. Here it is next to a standard sized 1.8 shakuhachi
It's not often a flute like this shows up at my door. Let's take a listen: Giant Bore Tamuke
Playing this flute was a wonderful awakening. At first, I found that lots of things about this flute didn't work for me as a shakuhachi musician. Mainly, Hi Go was not accessible for me. I wasn't able to find any fingering to make the note. But, after playing it for a half an hour or so I decided to find a piece of music I could play. Turns out, Tamuke doesn't use Hi Go. I was pleasantly reminded that flutes display their personality when applied to a piece of music as opposed to just trying to see if all the notes work. This reminded me of why I play music when tuning and checking my flutes (that's why it's very important for me to study shakuhachi music). Usually, When I play music on a shakuhachi, I feel a collaboration with the flute. It's a give and take relationship. Many fine flutes are very giving. And many do not give much. At least not while you're playing. I found this shakuhachi a little selfish at first. It made me play Tamuke in the way it wanted to be played. I realized that I couldn't, or it wouldn't let me do things I would normally do with this piece. Afterwards, it felt kind've good to succumb to the flute. I realized while playing that the flute was saying, "Listen to me, don't try to force me to do what you want. In the end, we'll both be happy".
The realization was quite elucidating and timely. It's a lesson I'm presently learning from my children, who are now at the ages of two and four years.
Namaste, Perry
Posted by Perry Yung at August 31, 2007 05:45 AM
Comments
God plays wide bore!
Posted by: Tairaku at September 8, 2007 09:06 PM
Well said Perry!
In practicing with my little Yamaguchi Shugetsu, I am reminded of why I love the one I have left with you for repair, so much. In switching Shakuhachi's, I am re-learning that each has its own distinct personality, and requires you to 'listen' to it and 'get to know it'.
Posted by: Russ Viola at November 13, 2007 04:37 PM