Nesting of the Cranes - The International Shakuhachi Society

Nesting of the Cranes

"Classical duets for the shakuhachi recorded in the Jenolan Caves. Riley Lee with Andrew MacGregor and others."

Riley Kōho Lee
New World Productions - NWCD 713
1994

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Artist
1	Tsuru no Sugomori (Chikuho Ryu)	鶴の巣籠	15'41	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
	Nesting of the Cranes "Nesting of the Cranes" is one of the most popular pieces in the shakuhachi repertoire. This version was written by Sakai Chikuho I in 1916. It incorporates melodic lines, embellishments, and other techniques shared by other "Nesting of the Cranes" pieces, including those performed on other instruments such as shamisen and the kokyu (traditional stringed instruments of Japan).
2	Mumonkan		03'10	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
	Gateless Barrier There is a famous collection of ancient Chinese Zen stories and verses entitled Mumonkan. The title alludes to the 'barrier' to one's inner mind or the 'barrier' to enlightenment. There is no gate to this barrier. For some, a 'gateless' barrier cannot be traversed. For others, a 'gateless' barrier is no barrier at all. The piece "Mumonkan" was written by Riley Lee in 1994. He performs both parts in this recording.
3	Taihei Manzai Raku	太平万才楽	15'18	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
	Eternal Peace This is a classical honkyoku, one of the 'original pieces' created, performed, and transmitted by a sect of Zen Buddhist priests as the focal point of their spiritual activities. Though most honkyoku are solo pieces, the few duets that do exist resonate with extraordinary power.
4	Kumoi Jishi	雲井獅子	04'38	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
	Cloud Lion There are many 'Lion' pieces in traditional Japanese music, including such genres as gagaku (court music) and koto (13 stringed zither) music. The lion was a mythical beast in ancient Japan. Like the dragon, it was considered an auspicious creature of great beauty and strength that really did exist, even though no one had ever seen one. Kumoi Jishi is also the name of a traditional Japanese tuning or mode, though there appears to be no connection in this case.
5	Mushi Kuyô	虫供養	10'26	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
	Memorial Service of the Insects this piece was composed by Sakai Chikuho I in 1956. It makes use of a number of performing techniques available to the shakuhachi player to imitate the sounds of specific insects, such as the matsumushi (a pine tree insect), and the higarashi (cicada).
6	Shin'ya	深夜	03'22	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
	Deep Night There is a classical honkyoku for solo shakuhachi by the same title, which was traditionallyperformed in meditation sessions that took place after midnight. This duet was written by Riley Lee in 1994. He performs both parts in this recording.
7	Shika no Tône (Taizan Ha)	鹿の遠音	13'19	Shakuhachi: Riley Kōho Lee Shakuhachi: Andrew MacGregor
	Distant Call of the Deer This traditional honkyoku ('original' Zen piece) is one of the most widely performed pieces of the entire shakuhachi repertoire, including both modern and classical works. The version of the piece performed here was transmitted within the Myoan ('Light and Dark') lineage of shakuhachi and is virtually unknown even among shakuhachi players in Japan. To our knowledge, this is the first commercial recording ever made of the Myoan version. A popular explanation of the piece depicts a male and female deer who call to each other across the mountainous valleys that separate them from one another. The dramatic climaxes of the piece have the two deer finally coming together to mate.