MURYOKO
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MUSIC |
Music Inspired by the Buddha Dharma© National Gallery of Australia, Canberra Graham RanftStarted out in music playing jazz double bass, played flute and recorder; now learning Shakuhachi with Daishihan Riley Lee. Came to Buddhism later in life. The Pure Land PiecesThese pieces have been created using a computer program called Musicnum. I have tried to capture the essence of Pure Land Buddhism - tranquillity, peace and with a feeling of spaciousness. PL1 was my first attempt. PLII is a musical representation of the 'Pureland'. PLIII is a further refinement of PL1 spare melody with a sense of simplicity, space and serenity. [Duration: 10:00] NEW: PLIV A new version, slower in tempo with less instruments Invocation of the Name. This piece comes from the heart ...yearning for escape and enlightenment, only to realise we have to accept ourselves as we are and in doing so comes serenity and the beginning of real practice. Shikantaza, or 'just sitting,' is alert nonselective attention which neither
pursues nor suppresses thoughts, sensations, etc., but, rather, gives alert
detached attention to whatever arises in and vanishes from consciousness. [Duration: 04:07] Koku is a much venerated piece. It is played by all schools of shakuhachi playing and its common title is 'Empty Sky' this refers to the concept of Sunyata. Daishihan Riley Lee writes ...'It refers to a concept that is in the realm of the Absolute and therefore cannot be explained or understood with words. Words, and indeed our thoughts, are of the world of the relative. For example, the word "empty" has no meaning apart from the word "full". The work "ko", on the other hand, does not mean merely "empty", because it is not the opposite of "full"; it is "that" which has nothing to do with "fullness".' The player aims to attain the ulitimate state of enlightenment whilst playing this piece. [Duration: 05:27] Towa no wakare no aika Ekoh This honkyoku came from the Ichigetsuji, in Chiba prefecture. Played on a Shugetsu Yamaguchi 2.85/F# jinashi shakuhachi. Hachi gaeshi (Returning the Bowl) is performed after the monk received alms, usually a bowl of uncooked rice. The monk would then return the bowl and perform 'Returning the Bowl' in an expression of gratitude, for the food which gives him life, and on the part of the donor for the opportunity to give. The temple of Echigomeianji is in Niigata Prefecture. Kyorei is the oldest known shakuhachi piece, a slow quiet piece
that is both simple and very challenging to play. It is regarded as one
of the most venerated of pieces. Here it is played with 'Kyosui' - empty breath without affectation or tecnical artifice This simple playing style is the essence of Zen.
Hifumi shirabe - Hifumi means simply "1- 2- 3" Yamato choshi
Honte Choshi (calligraphy, right), 'Original Searching' - a short prelude style of piece. It serves to help establish the pitch of the instrument and to center the musician. The musician warms up and then settles the mind for spiritual practice through the playing of such a piece. Often refered to as 'Suizen' - Blowing Zen. A high degree of 'one pointedness' or concentration of the mind can be obtained by playing the shakuhachi. Banshiki Chikugo Sashi Clouds & Mountains Takane Sashi Tehodoki Reiho I would like here to acknowledge my deep gratitude to my teacher, Daishihan [Grand Master] Riley Lee and Sensei Tilo Burdach. |
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