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A-40.Long Flutes 長管

A-40.Long Flutes 長管

"shakuhachi tips"
原作者:柿堺香老師 (Kaoru Kakizakai)
英文翻譯: Zachary Braverman
進階篇40.
September 2001

A-40.Long Flutes 長管


As people play more and more koten honkyoku (classical shakuhachi), everybody begins to want to play with choukan (long flutes). I think this is because the deeper sound of the choukan has a power that inevitably draws people in.


I am often asked what the best length flute to play a certain song is. There are no rules governing this, and it is up to each player to decide. However, songs like “Shika-no-Tone” and “Tsuru-no-Tsugumori” do not sound natural when played on a choukan. There is no specific definition stating at what size flutes becomes choukan, either.


By the way, it is said that the pitch of a shakuhachi goes down by half a note for every sun that is added in length, but in reality this is true only around the standard 1.8 length. The longer the bamboo, the more length you need to add on to achieve a full half-note downshift.


For example, going by the “half-step for each sun” principle, a 2.3 length flute should be a perfect fourth away from a 1.8, but in actuality you need a 2.4 flute to achieve a perfect 4 from a 1.8. This creates some confusion, since some people call the “A” pitch flute a 2.3 while others call it a 2.4.


There are several benefits to playing choukan. The first is that playing a 1.8 flute after a choukan feels very easy. This is partially because choukan require more breath, but also because they require more precision in terms of finding the place within the shakuhachi to direct your breath. It is a mistake to think you can play choukan if you have good lung capacity but lack this kind of precision.


Also,playing choukan correctly will help you develop a natural playing posture.Playing a choukan for any length of time in an unnatural posture will result in pain somewhere in your body relatively quickly. In order to avoid this your body will naturally find the best, most natural posture for it.


For example, your wrist will start to hurt if you play a choukan with the tip of your index finger covering the 2nd hole. Instead - and especially if you have small hands - you will find it much easier to cover the hole with the base of your
finger where it connects to the palm. This is adifferent position
than with a 1.8 flute, but it will allow you to play much more freely.


Attempting to force your fingers to cover the holes in unnatural ways will often lead to air leakage. Instead, you have to learn to let go of unnecessary tension to achieve good playing.


So,next time you get a chance, try playing a choukan and experience for yourself one of the true pleasures shakuhachi has to offer.

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