Shakuhachi Master - John Singer
5. KORO (UTATA) SUGAGAKI
This piece is one of the so called "Sugagaki pieces" (like Akita Sugagaki). The term "Koro" is considered to be the Shakuhachi technique having that name. It is however possible that the name of this piece was changed from "Koto" to "Koro" originating from the priest Utata Kamiya, who was said to have been especially good at this technique. The names "Koro" and "Utata" are interchangeable because the characters used can be pronounced the same way.
The "Koro" technique is a kind of trill. It is played as "Koro Koro". As there is the saying in Japanese, "Kubi Furi San Nen" (it takes 3 years to master the technique called Kubi Furi), there is also the saying, "Koro Hachi Nen" (it takes 8 years to master the technique called Koro). In this piece the Koro technique is used both often and effectively.
Copyright 2001 John Singer. All rights reserved.