Shakuhachi Master - John Singer
27. SAGARI HA NO KYOKU
In the 18th century, after having had the piece "Sagari Ha" transmitted to him by the priest Matsuyama from Myoan-Ji Temple in Kyoto, Kinko Kurosawa (founder of the Kinko school) created this new version called "Sagari Ha No Kyoku".
The name "Sagari Ha", even though there are several ways of writing it, finds its origin in one type of "Hayashigoto", the instrumental background of Noh, Kyogen, and later, Satokagura and Kabuki. This "Hayashigoto" music was performed when the spirits of the deceased were thought to be rising into the air. There are also different "Sagari Ha" which can be found in festival music. That is, "Sagari Ha" originally came from high class public entertainment. The Shakuhachi "Sagari Ha" was also performed at the Kyoto Gion Festival. For Shakuhachi, the melody was refined into the Honkyoku (solo) style, but even so, when heard, the connection between the Shakuhachi "Sagari Ha" and the festival version becomes clear.
Copyright 2001 John Singer. All rights reserved.