Photo: Vivian Plesner & Lilian Andresen

Never have I played in a town with such an appropriate name for a shakuhachi concert: ROOslepa! And it feels like Paradise on earth right now. I have been swimming in the Baltic Sea and in a lake… and now concert in a wonderful church. I might begin with a few ROO….!

I have published another shakuhachi interview. This time it is with shakuhachi performer, teacher and head of Chikumeisha, Mizuno Kohmei. These interviews are meant as a channel through which players can tell their stories and share their knowledge of the shakuhachi, its history, and much more. The shakuhachi world is very complex and there are many myths surrounding this instrument. I am hoping to add to the pool of knowledge about the shakuhachi to the vast and diverse non-Japanese group of shakuhachi aficionados around the world. I learn a lot through these interviews myself. Mizuno sensei talks about his own shakuhachi background, how he managed to have a job and still play shakuhachi at a high level. He also speaks about the creation of the Chikumeisha group and also the challenges the group faced after the death of Yamaguchi Goro, and how they moved on. I hope you will enjoy it!

Jeg er så privilegeret, at jeg skal spille 2 gange i Koncertkirken – det hippe koncertsted i København!!!
Først skal jeg spille med – bare på et nummer – med Kaja Draksler Octet torsdag d. 30.06.22, kl. 20:00. Det skal nok blive sjovt! Fri improv. Ingen prøver!
Derefter skal jeg spille en solokoncert d. 31.08.22, kl.20:00 – og det glæder jeg mig simpelt hen så meget til.
Kom glad hvis du er i nærheden!

I am so happy to have been able to work on this edited book with Matt Gillan and Patrick Huang in honour of my supervisor and friend David W Hughes. He was very important for many of us ethnomusicology students at SOAS with his inclusive attitude and high standards of scholarship.

Mindful playing: a practice research investigation into shakuhachi playing and meditation

is the title of the practice research article I have in the current special issue of Ethnomusicology Forum 31.1: 143-59. I have used micro-phenomenological interview technique to do auto-ethnography on how I may play shakuhachi as meditation – something that has been important historically to the shakuhachi community. It is a nerdy research project and has as the main aim to explore how we speak about what we musicians do the most: practice, explore and experiment alone.
I am grateful to the special issues editors: Muriel Swijghuisen Reigersberg, Aaron Corn & Brett Pyper and the editorial team: Phil Alexander, Alexander Cannon, Henry Stobart & Frances Wilkins.

In 3 weeks the first of a series of online event organised by the European Shakuhachi Society will take place. The Road to Dublin when we finally will meet in person! You can register for the May event now.