A ren-kan (duet) version of Kumoi Jishi on two 1.8 flutes. 

Kumoi Jishi

This is the first honkyoku (traditional repertoire) piece that one studies as a kinko-ryu student. In the formal Japanese system, the pupil will have studied a large amount of sankyoku (ensemble pieces) during several years before getting down to the honkyoku. As a beginner's piece, I consider Hi-fu-mi no hachigaeshi no shirabe something of a practical joke on the student's expense. It is a devastatingly difficult piece to play as a beginner, and is, in my opinion, one of the most treacherous and unforgiving pieces of all the kinko-ryu honkyoku, deft in betraying every mistake and weak point of the player, and in general does everything in its power not to sound good. It is not improbable that it constitutes a kind of deliberate threshold to get rid of students of low determination – this piece induces despair when first encountered, and is probably responsible for many an abandoned shakuhachi. More info on the meaning of the piece: http://komuso.com/pieces/pieces.pl?piece=1909

Hi-fu-mi hachigaeshi no shirabe

This is a polska, an old Swedish dance in 3/4 time, composed around 1900 by a lady called Ingebrikt Halvarsson from Härjedalen. Originally performed on a "härjedalspipa", an archaic, recorder-like flute, here performed on the Japanese shakuhachi. For an alternate version, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiRaUjqrJxE, the only other recording of this song that I've ever heard. 

Polska efter Ingebrikt Halvarsson

This is the main theme (?) from the 1997 Studio Ghibli/Hayao Mizayaki anime Mononome Hime. The second flute part is my own. 

Mononoke hime

This is a solo version of one of the most famous pieces of the kinko-ryu. It is usually performed as a duet, and imitates – in a very stylized way – two deer calling to one another. It is a fun piece to play since it contains a lot of interesting techniques that make weird sounds, notably the mura-iki, a kind of startling wail (you'll hear the first one around 1:45). 

Read more: http://komuso.com/pieces/pieces.pl?piece=2647

While I'm obviously decades from doing it any kind of justice, here's a performance by Goro Yamaguchi and Aoki Reibo, whose different playing styles complimented the piece beautifully: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oBMXlcwya4&feature=results_main&playnext=1&list=PL3FEFFB56E23C140E

Shika no tone (solo)

http://komuso.com/pieces/pieces.pl?piece=2167

Shizu no kyoku

Sagari-ha no kyoku has been explained to me as a sound image of leaves falling as the autumn comes. 

Sagari-ha no kyoku

A duo version of Shika no tone ("call of the deer"). The phrases overlap more and more as the piece progresses, perhaps signifying the deer getting closer. Since I play both parts, a lot of the dynamic is lost – the synergy between the two players tend to make the piece a great listen, and every performance unique. 

Shika no tone (duo)

Shika no tone (120307)

Bumbibjornarna

Final Fantasy IX Medley

Playing shakuhachi since late in 2008, studying kinko-ryu with Gunnar Jinmei Linder.

niklasnattochdag

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