Welcome
From the European Shakuhachi Society (ESS) site you can:
- Find out the latest news about the European Shakuhachi Society
- Learn about the aims of the European Shakuhachi Society
- Find out about the people involved with the ESS, such as the ESS committee, teachers and other luminaries
- View details of past and future shakuhachi-related events
- Read and download various publications, such as the quarterly ESS newsletters, and enjoy photos, audio and video clips
- Contact the ESS or visit the ESS Forum, Facebook and MySpace sites
- Become a member of the European Shakuhachi Society
- Browse the ESS Archives and related links
News
News about the European Shakuhachi Society (ESS) and beyond.
News: 12th February 2012 - 2012 World Shakuhachi Festival in Kyoto
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The World Shakuhachi Festival will be held in various locations in Kyoto, Japan, from May 31 through June 4, 2012. This will include performances by the world's leading shakuhachi players, workshops and opportunities for group participation in performances. The current website address is: 2012worldshakuhachifestival.wordpress.com. The Shakuhachi Summer Camp of the Rockies 2012, in Kyoto will precede the Festival and take place from May 28 to May 31, 2012 at Ôtani Hall, Kyoto. The cost will be ¥45,000 (Registration ¥30,000 + Lodging ¥15,000). The Camp Faculty includes Riley Kôho Lee, Christopher Yohmei Blasdel, Kaoru Kakizakai, Ichizan Hoshida, David Kansuke Wheeler and string players. An International Shakuhachi Competition will take place on May 31, 2012 in Kyoto. The deadline for registration is February 29. English language inquiries and applications should be made to David Wheeler (shakudavid@gmail.com). Further information is available from: www.bmbnt.com/osaki-nissei/english. |
News: 16th January 2012 - ESS Newsletter October 2011 Issue - German and French Translations
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A copy of the October 2011 ESS Newsletter is avaliable with German and French transaltions. If you can help with translations for the quarterly ESS Newsletters, please contact Philip Horan, the ESS Publishing Officer. |
News: 8th January 2012 - New ESS website live
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The new ESS website is now live. The site is intended to be multilingual and, subject to volunteer translators, will gradually be enhanced by the addition of pages and articles in other languages. If you would like to volunteer to help maintain the site in a European language, please contact the ESS. If you have any shakuhachi-related photographs, audio or video files that are suitable for the website or ESS newsletter, please contact the ESS to arrange transfer of the items. |
News: November 2011- 2011 ESS Summer School in London: Videos
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ESS Member Thorsten Knaub has provided a set of video from the 2011 ESS Summer school in London. The videos cover the wide variety of instruments, styles and events that made up the successful summer school. |
The Aims of the ESS
"Creating an environment where many of the different schools and styles of shakuhachi playing can be explored and their differences celebrated"
The Japanese, vertical end-blown bamboo flute, the shakuhachi, has become an icon of traditional Japanese music. The beautiful, mystic sound of the bamboo attracts world wide interest from those cultivating Japanese aesthetics to avant-garde composers. During the Edo period (1603 - 1867), the shakuhachi was used as a tool for meditation by Zen Buddhist priests in order to reach enlightenment. Today the shakuhachi is used in a wide variety of musical forms and styles including ensemble music, pop music, jazz as well as the traditional genres.
The aim of the European Shakuhachi Society is to create an environment where many of the different schools and styles of shakuhachi playing can be explored and their differences celebrated - no matter whichever approach to the instrument one chooses to take. ESS is an educational charity and aiming to take up the role as an umbrella organisation for all shakuhachi groups in Europe and thereby creating a space where players can meet across ryūha (schools) and physical borders.
ESS hosts Summer Schools and seminars around Europe. The annual European Shakuhachi Summer School is organised by various local shakuhachi groups in Europe in collaboration with ESS. All Summer School and seminars are open to anyone who has an interest in the shakuhachi, including complete beginners.
We hope that by creating a space to get together for all shakuhachi players, as well as koto and shamisen players, we can enhance the interest in these beautiful instruments, share experiences, widen an understanding of different styles and develop playing techniques and grow together as a musical community.
Charity
The European Shakuhachi Society is a registered charity. Registered charity no. 1123060.
The Articles of Association are publicly available.
