The Single Tone: A Personal Journey into Shakuhachi Music (Paperback)

~ Christopher Yohmei Blasdel (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

The quintessential insider's view of Japan's culture and music. Originally written in Japanese and winner of the Rennyo Award for non-fiction, author Christopher Yohmei Blasdel - an American who has resided in Japan since 1972 - writes about his experiences studying, performing and teaching the traditional shakuhachi bamboo flute. His encounters with various Japanese - from world-famous artists, wealthy patrons, respected scholars to arrogant diplomats - provide thoughtful insight into the Japanese mind. He also demonstrates the universal appeal of the shakuhachi by performing it around the world: in the jungles of Guatemala, the ancient banquet halls of the Republic of Georgia, and the wind-swept Indian reservations of New Mexico.

About the Author

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel, born in Texas, began the shakuhachi and studies of Japanese music in 1972 with shakuhachi master, Living National Treasure Goro Yamaguchi. He received a teaching license and the professional name "Yohmei" from Yamaguchi in 1984. At the same time, he completed graduate work in ethnomusicology at Tokyo University of Fine Arts and Music. A permanent resident of Japan, he has performed, taught and lectured throughout China, Thailand, Europe, North America, Mexico, India, Malaysia and the former Soviet Union and Eastern Europe. He has been a visiting artist in residence at Earlham College, Richmond Indiana, guest professor at the Faculty of Fine and Applied Arts, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, invited artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, resident of Centrum Arts Center and recently awarded an Asian Cultural Council grant to study the transmission of Thai traditional music. He was an executive director of the Boulder World Shakuhachi Festival 1998 and is the artistic director of the Fukuoka Gendai Hogaku Festival for contemporary Japanese music. His book, "A Shakuhachi Odyssey," written in Japanese, is published by Kawade Shobo Shinsha and was awarded the prestigious Rennyo Award for non fiction. In his musical activities, Blasdel maintains a balance between traditional shakuhachi music, modern compositions and cross-genre work with a great variety of well-known musicians, dancers, poets, and painters, both Western and Eastern. Blasdel presently performs, teaches, and records in Japan and around the world. He works as Advisor to the Arts Program at the International House of Japan, is part-time lecturer at International Christian University and Temple University in Tokyo, teaches privately at the Asahi Culture Center in Shinjuku and writes occasionally for The Japan Times. He holds a second-degree black belt in Aikido. (The International Shakuhachi Society)

Product Details

• Paperback: 167 pages
• Publisher: Printed Matter Press (January 4, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1933175095
• ISBN-13: 978-1933175096
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #906,955 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary book for those interested in Japan or it's music., November 1, 2006

By	T Mind "T Mind" (UK) - See all my reviews

I really enjoyed reading this book. It takes you on the authors personal journey in music and culture. I found it unusual in that it was originally written and published in japanese for a japanese audience before being translated by the author into english. One of the authors concerns is to tell japanese peaople about the richeness of their own culture which has been pushed aside in favour of western music.

After reading I bought the japanese version so I could share the book with my friends from japan.

It is suitable for those who have no knowledge of Japanese music or the Shakuhachi as well at those who play or study the instrument.

BUY IT YOU'LL ENJOY IT!

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiration, July 17, 2007

By	AB (England) - See all my reviews

A fascinating insight into the Shakuhachi and a personal journey. Superbly written, "The Single Tone" is inspiring to Shakuhachi players and non-players alike. This is a wonderful read for anyone. Highly recommended. A different style than Blowing Zen: Finding an Authentic Life, the two books together offer a deep insight to the twists life takes and to spirit and determination.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From Heart to Heart!, February 7, 2008

By	Matheus Furlan Ferreira "Math" (São Paulo, Brazil) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Blasdel book is superb!!! His writtings are clear and directly to the point, yet always sensitive and moving.
I got really fascianted by this book, I finished it in only a couple days, I couldn't get my hands away from it.
Blasdel also helpe me to clarify some of my personal conflicts in my shakuhachi path.
All I can say is: "ishin-denshin" = communication from one heart to another.

Thanks so much Christopher.

May you always be blessed by the Gods.