Adam Robinson is a shakuhachi player based in New

York City. He studies in the tradition of the Kinko school

of shakuhachi with Ralph Samuelson in New York and
with Tokumaru Jumei in Tokyo. To supplement his shaku-
hachi training he studies Japanese ensemble music with
acclaimed koto and shamisen players Sumie Kaneko and Haru no Tori
Yoko Hiraoka. Adam attended The New School for Jazz
and Contemporary Music where he studied jazz improvisa-
tion and tenor saxophone. He currently performs with the Shakuhachi Concert
Columbia University Gagaku Ensemble as well as in solo
and ensemble concerts in the New York area.

Japan Village 2nd Floor

April 24th 2022
 Musical Selections
Notes About Program: Haru no Tori (Birds of Set Two
Spring)
Set One
Osu Sashi
Happy spring! In spite of all that has happened and is hap- Kumoi Jishi
Like all of the shakuhachi music I am playing
today Osu Sashi was learned from Ralph
pening in our world I’m very grateful to be able to present This is a dedication piece that recalls the Samuelson.
Japanese shakuhachi music for you today. “lion dance” it is said that Kumoi Jishi is I am inspired by his sound every time I hear it
played to drive off evil spirits. The idea
The shakuhachi that I am playing is a flute that has been of playing this piece first is to purify the
and this short solo piece (honkyoku) is dedicat-
ed to him.
developed to it’s current version since the 1600’s. It is a flute space we are sharing as we listen to this
that came from the breathing meditation practice done by music. Chidori no Kyoku
samurai class monks called the Komuso in the Edo period. Sokkaku Reibo
Literally “The Song of The Plover” Chidori
no Kyoku is a masterpiece of Koto (Japanese
Over the years the flute found a place inside the traditional One of the classical shakuhachi pieces, floor harp) music written by Yoshisawa Kengyo
music of Japan. The sound of the shakuhachi now finds it- Sokkaku Reibo depicts the life of cranes. II. The full version of this piece contains waka
First being born and entering the world,
self on the world stage being practiced on almost every con- learning their song, developing through
poetry depicting the chidori (plover) on the
beach. The shakuhachi part to this composi-
tinent and in a whole range of musical contexts. The music life, aging, dying, and passing their song tion was added after the original composition
I am presenting today is all from the traditional repertoire of to the next generation was written. It is a beautiful shakuhachi part
the Kinko school of shakuhachi with the exception of Loons Loons
and has the feeling of spring, it will be played
as a shortened solo arrangement today.
written by Elizabeth Brown, herself a distinguished Kinko Contemporary shakuhachi piece by
school player. Elizabeth Brown based on the sound of Ho Shou Su
the loon. Composed as a duet while on a
Todays selections are almost all based around the sounds of residency at Isle Royal Nature Preserve
Another classical solo shakuhachi piece, Ho
Shou Su depicts the sound of the phoenix.
birds interpreted through the voice of the shakuhachi. With presented today as a solo piece. This mythical bird is said to have inspired the
the return of spring we find ourselves again surrounded by creation of the flute in Chinese classical music.
the cries of birds and I hope this program will help draw The story goes that the Qin Dynasty Emperor
sent his court musical advisor, Ling Lun into
your attention to them this season. the wilderness to create the perfect music.
To everyone in attendance today I want to say, “dozou o While in the bamboo forest Ling Lun heard
raku ni.” Please relax and comfortably enjoy the sound of the sound of the king of birds, the Phoenix.
He cut a length of bamboo and imitated the
the shakuhachi. This music is not meant to excite you like
sound of this mythic bird. I like to keep this
Michael Jackson but to help you and I attain a state of tran-
legend in mind while playing this mediative
quility together. I hope that as host and guest we can achieve and elegant solo piece.
this atmosphere today.