A different musical tradition

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 16 Sep 2001 1:41 pm

"Hatsuko Kikuhara, a master of traditional Japanese music who was designated a living national treasure, died of pneumonia Wednesday at the age of 102...

Kikuhara first touched the koto when she was 3 and started formal training with her father, (who was blind) two years later. At 9. she began taking shamisen (a 3-string guitar-like instrument) lessons from her grandfather, who was (also) blind.

Her training was very strict, and she was forced to practice more than 12 hours a day, stopping only for meals. During the winter, her father made her put her hands in freezing water before playing to instill mental rigor in her and the ability to play even when she couldn't feel her fingers.

She was taught by her father and grandfather to play by ear-blind musicians have held a special position throughout Japanese history for their percieved intuition and keen musical abilities- and in later years would sometimes criticize younger musicians for relying on printed music and displaying little feel for the notes...she devoted herself to her music and by the age of 18 had mastered all 32 jiuta suites (centuries-old ballads derived from Kyoto and Osaka folk songs) and 200 other pieces of classical music...

...In January 1999, she gave a commemorative performance on her 100th birthday...She said she felt uncomfortable when people told her she was old...

I recently had a physical, and my doctor, who is the same age as myself, and I were discussing the inevitable, and he mentioned that he's noticed that people who are deeply involved in music, spirituality and ritual tend to live a long time.

Steven Knapper · Post by **Steven Knapper** » 16 Sep 2001 5:44 pm

Amen----

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 18 Sep 2001 3:07 pm

CHAS,,,I heard a tune by Gene Autry,,,,yeah the old movie cowboy. He always had Frankie
Marvin playing steel with him for years and years,,,with that trade mark,,,glissando style he was so well known for on all of Gene's recordings,,,I played an old 78 rpm last nite,,,,

It just hit me in the face as I was looking through my old 78 speed recordings,,,I heard Gene singing "A Bible On The Table & the Flag upon the wall.

It was not Johnny or Frankie Marvin on steel
E mail me and I will send the clip to you,,,,you will be suprised at who was playing with Autry on that recording,,,,the tastiest simple understated playing by the fellow who's picture I sent to you.

I dont have your e address,,,,send me your and I will send a clip to you,,,,I think you will like what you hear...If not ,,,I will forward to Mike Black and have him forward to you...I lost your e address......PS I just sent it to Michael Black,,,he will forward to you....[This message was edited by Jody Carver on 18 September 2001 at 05:20 PM.]

Blake Hawkins · Post by **Blake Hawkins** » 19 Sep 2001 5:38 am

Hi Jody,
I also have the Gene Autry recording of "With a Bible On the Table and a Flag Upon the Wall.

Worked it up in my key and sang it at a jam session Monday night. It got a good receiption.
I'd also like to know who is the steel player?

Thanks,
Blake

Jody Carver · Post by **Jody Carver** » 19 Sep 2001 7:45 am

Blake,,,,,the steel player was the best ever
Joaquin Murphey,,,,did you hear those simple
single string "violin like" obligatto's ??

He was the best there was,,,,in my opinion
STILL IS.

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 19 Sep 2001 8:18 pm

Chas; In 1954, I was stationed on Tokyo Bay
across from Tokyo and Mt Fuji. I was engaged to the Base Librarian who graduated from the University of Tokyo. I was learning to read and write the language and
as such was invited to a New Years Eve party
in Chiba about half way into Tokyo.

I followed all the traditional cultural requirements as to dress and eating which by the way was gender segregated. The entertainment was the lady you mentioned. I cannot acknowledge the name because of time
lapses but the music was certainly the very best. You could tell you were in the presence of a Star and the respect for her could be felt in the listeners. I was struck then by the way the koto sounded, in her hands, like a pedal steel. The notes bent with the same precision but without the mechanical feeling. It was all in the way
she pressed the strings on the oposite side of the tuning bridges and that was masterful.

Being the only foreigner in the audience, I became the focal point of many questions afterwards and my referring to a
pedal steel guitar as a median comparison, got some interesting discussions going among the listeners, after the show.

I thank you for opening this memory door to me and returning my thoughts to those times.
I recall thinking back then that it had only been a decade since these people were our mortal enemies and now I'm wondering what the next decade will change in our hearts.

Best Regards, Paul

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 20 Sep 2001 5:12 pm

That's the way it is Paul, Governments and allegience to a flag makes people enemies, it's when you have to deal with them up close as human beings that things change.
A sobering thought, .... thanks.

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 20 Sep 2001 5:32 pm

Paul, what a great experience. Chas

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 21 Sep 2001 3:38 am

Paul I didn't realize that we lived in Japan during the same era (54-56). My wife and daughter were with me, and we lived in a "private-rental" in a rural village area (Sagami-Hara), so we also had an opportunity to know our Japanese neighbors and culture apart from a military connection.

The traditional music you spoke of above was played continually during daylight hours from a loud-speaker from the village market place so it could be enjoyed by everyone, most of whom did not own radios.

Our daughter Sherry was age 4 and mentally retarded, and I remember the kindness of both adults and children in helping to watch after her and keep her from harm.

There was a small elementary school within sight of our house and Sherry would occasionally slip away from my wife and go there. The teacher would always take her in, and my wife would find her by seeing her little red tennis shoes lined up alongside the little wooden getas outside the door, with the children inside entertaining her. Sherry was unable to speak, but the little children were not constrained by such unimportant inconveniences as mental retardation and the language barrier.

There are lots of stories about our experiences there, but I know this is not the place for it. I'm hoping that we will someday meet in person to share the common paths that we have crossed.....Gene
[This message was edited by Gene Jones on 21 September 2001 at 04:49 AM.]

Paul Graupp · Post by **Paul Graupp** » 21 Sep 2001 4:26 am

Jason: I have read your posts for some time now and to be in a conversation with you is a distinct pleasure !

Chas: Lest you think I am some educated snob, read on !

Gene: I really don't know how to express myself properly when it comes to the paths we have followed. I keep thinking of Tracy Byrd's song, The Keeper Of The Stars. I found the people to be exactly as you have described them and I really wanted to live in with them. The care and courtesy reminded me of Knights and their manners and language.

The New Years Eve party I refered to above almost ended my future as a pedal steel guitarist. Tradition required several rituals be performed prior to the New Year.
You had be clean and that required a bath before midnight but first, a toast to old friends. Some warm Saki was called for and the format was such that I was at the head of the gathering and I exchanged glases with each of them. This meant that I got quite a lot of drink and after Saki, you can tolerate surgery.

With no central heat, the bed was kept warm with a hot water bottle, super heated over the charcoal in a Hibachi and then rolled up in a cloth. During the night, it became unrolled and the metal touched my left calf.
I couldn't walk the next morning and they took me to the base Hospital in a cab. My leg was literally cooked and there was talk of having to amputate. They decided to wait and see if it got infected and it didn't so I went on to play the pedals and levers.

As if to remind me of how strong drink could be, that leg would collapse from time to time and I would hit the deck. I fell in the mess hall one time with a full tray and for four or five months I never strayed far from a wall or handhold. When I heard they had reprimanded the maid who had placed the bottle, I sent her a traditional gift to show I held no ill feelings.

Regards, Paul

chas smith R.I.P. · Post by **chas smith R.I.P.** » 21 Sep 2001 10:07 am

Chas: Lest you think I am some educated snob, read on

Hey, educated snobs are people too.