Shakuhachi Master - John Singer
2. KOTOBUKI NO SHIRABE (FELICITATIONS)
This is one of the "Shirabe" pieces. This piece is sometimes played as an independent work inserted into the middle of "Hifumi Hachigaeshi No Shirabe" to become "Hifumi Hachigaeshi Kotobuki No Shirabe".
Kotobuki was probably called "Kotoji" in older Japanese, and this Kotoji was a native performance of religious belief and later, in medieval times, changed into simply becoming a begging (Takuhatsu) performance. Kotobuki was added to Hachigaeshi probably because of the similar nature of the two pieces. Even though Kotobuki was once added into Hachigaeshi, as far as we know, it has never been performed that way and the pieces are always taught separately.
The origin of this piece is unknown, however, it seems like a new work because it was not listed in the "Toryu Shakuhachi Mokuroku" which was written by Kinko IV who died in 1860.
Copyright 2001 John Singer. All rights reserved.