The New Collection: Tairyu Honkyoku II

I’m pleased to announce the upcoming release of another collection of classic shakuhachi works. “Tairyu Honkyoku, Volume II” will be available in a few days, and just like Volume I, it contains ten historic compositions from the solo repertoire. Each piece was recorded in one take, and masterfully engineered by Duane Levi of Shalestone Music. 

To prepare for these recording sessions, I took my daughter on a number of hikes, to observe firsthand the natural beauty that inspires so much of our honkyoku. Click here and here to see some examples of the kind of terrain we were enjoying.

When I wasn’t hiking, I spent some time in the practice room, dialing in these pieces on a range of flutes. For this collection I used flutes in the 1.6, 1.8, 2.0, and 3.0 lengths, all crafted by master maker, Yozan Hikichi. These iconic melodies beautifully present the tone colors and techniques for which  shakuhachi is famous. I hope you find them a stirring reminder of the masters of the past, and a glimpse of the direction of shakuhachi today.

Available soon on Spotify: Tairyu Honkyoku, Volume II
Visit Tairyu Shakuhachi now for hundreds of shakuhachi performances, tips, and tutorials. 

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