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Shakuhachi Music, Notes, and More |
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The Shakuhachi is an Japanese end-blown bamboo flute. It is tuned |
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to the pentatonic minor scale, but is capable of producing |
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virtually any pitch in a roughly 3 octave range. It is a Zen |
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medatative instrument, but can also be used for traditional |
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Japanese ensemble music, western folk, jazz, and more. |
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Not only is the instrument capable of any pitch, but it offers |
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extreme variety in tones and coloring by subtle changes in |
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embouchere and movement of the head to modify the air-flow over |
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the blowing edge (utaguchi). |
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Music for the Shakuhachi spans a lot of different styles. |
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In the eastern traditions there are the following general styles: |
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doyo - Children's songs |
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minyo - Folk tunes |
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shinkyoku - Music composed between 1900-1950 |
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gendai kyoku - Modern music |
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san kyoku - Trio music for shakuhachi, koto, and shamisen |
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honkyoku - Classical shakuhachi music for Zen meditation, |
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or a free-form in this style |
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Music |
