No clever title
Yesterday in Shoji class we had Christopher Yohmei Blasdel, the professional Shakuhachi flautist/flutist, as a guest speaker. He also performed for us, which was very very cool. From the beginning I recognized its timbre. Something about the way it resonated within my body was familiar, made me think of dancing and the live music I'd performed with before, felt like "home." He played four pieces: a traditional, Zen meditation composition; a modern (only 25 or 30 yr old) through-composed piece; an improvisation to the crickets' singing that was coming through the classroom windows; and his own composition in the style of a 15th century Italian dance.
His book (which we were supposed to read in preparation for the class), while not brilliantly written (though to be fair, he originally wrote it in Japanese and had to translate it later), was quite interesting and definitely a source of inspiration, as he just sort of stumbled upon his life's work and has been quite successful and happy doing it. He also of course knows quite a lot about international music, Asian in particular, and the scene supporting it in Japan, so I asked if he knew of Bharat Natyam teachers in the area. Unsurprisingly he said "yes." I gave him my email address and, who knows, maybe I will take up lessons again... in Tokyo of all places.
I tried to discuss with him the second piece he played, how it began with a very "Asian" motif, so "Asian" that I thought perhaps it was influenced by Western interpretations/imitations of the "Asian" sound, but how its through-composed quality seemed to have even less pretensions of "Asian-ness," and 1) whether or not that was a concern for the growing movement to preserve/pass on traditional Japanese arts and 2) if "preserving" compositional style was even a concern or whether the interest was mainly in spreading and popularizing Asian instruments and techniques, as there was little chance to prevent "hybridization" in such a global scene. But I wasn't very successful... incredibly inarticulate and unable to properly formulate my questions. Anyway, he was interesting and very patient and willing to be engaged in discussion. I'm considering taking his Japanese ethnomusicology course next term, though I'm afraid it will be very crowded (after Abbate's way-too-crowded Romantic Music course, I'm hesitant to take a crowded music class).
Hmm... what else?
So I finally have money, but I don't have my bank card yet (I was apparently out when the bank people came by my apartment with it), so I can't withdraw from an ATM. And to make things worse, banks are only open M-F 9-15, so the soonest I could go in person is Monday (as it's a school holiday, and hopefully not a National holiday, as the bank will also be closed in that case). Very frustrating as it's a big hassle/burden to go shopping or go out with friends without a bike.
American Apparel is opening two stores in Tokyo, in Daikanyama and Shibuya. I first saw the job listing on tokyo.craigslist, so applied through there, then also applied online at their website. But I haven't heard anything back. :-( Very disappointing. I was hoping for a job in sales to improve my Japanese (as opposed to teaching English, which would be easy money but probably only put me in contact with a very narrow section of the population), plus I'm really interested to see how American Apparel will sell itself and its mission to Tokyo's materialistic, image-conscious, and infamously thoughtless youth.
This coming week at school is "I-Week." The "I" stand for "International," and I'm really curious to see what it's going to be about. There will be performances and lectures, including one or two on whether or not Japan is really international (I think I can answer that... no) and how it can become so. I think one of these lectures will actually be given by a Zainichi speaker, whose thoughts/experiences/opinions I would be really interested to hear, except that I don't think this particular lecture includes "stimulus translation" (I think the flyer's makers meant "simultaneous translation" when they chose this happy pair).
My blog entries are way too long, don't you think?
The Red Sox were swept out.
The Astros are still in it.
Tonight, Hurricanes at Islanders.
His book (which we were supposed to read in preparation for the class), while not brilliantly written (though to be fair, he originally wrote it in Japanese and had to translate it later), was quite interesting and definitely a source of inspiration, as he just sort of stumbled upon his life's work and has been quite successful and happy doing it. He also of course knows quite a lot about international music, Asian in particular, and the scene supporting it in Japan, so I asked if he knew of Bharat Natyam teachers in the area. Unsurprisingly he said "yes." I gave him my email address and, who knows, maybe I will take up lessons again... in Tokyo of all places.
I tried to discuss with him the second piece he played, how it began with a very "Asian" motif, so "Asian" that I thought perhaps it was influenced by Western interpretations/imitations of the "Asian" sound, but how its through-composed quality seemed to have even less pretensions of "Asian-ness," and 1) whether or not that was a concern for the growing movement to preserve/pass on traditional Japanese arts and 2) if "preserving" compositional style was even a concern or whether the interest was mainly in spreading and popularizing Asian instruments and techniques, as there was little chance to prevent "hybridization" in such a global scene. But I wasn't very successful... incredibly inarticulate and unable to properly formulate my questions. Anyway, he was interesting and very patient and willing to be engaged in discussion. I'm considering taking his Japanese ethnomusicology course next term, though I'm afraid it will be very crowded (after Abbate's way-too-crowded Romantic Music course, I'm hesitant to take a crowded music class).
Hmm... what else?
So I finally have money, but I don't have my bank card yet (I was apparently out when the bank people came by my apartment with it), so I can't withdraw from an ATM. And to make things worse, banks are only open M-F 9-15, so the soonest I could go in person is Monday (as it's a school holiday, and hopefully not a National holiday, as the bank will also be closed in that case). Very frustrating as it's a big hassle/burden to go shopping or go out with friends without a bike.
American Apparel is opening two stores in Tokyo, in Daikanyama and Shibuya. I first saw the job listing on tokyo.craigslist, so applied through there, then also applied online at their website. But I haven't heard anything back. :-( Very disappointing. I was hoping for a job in sales to improve my Japanese (as opposed to teaching English, which would be easy money but probably only put me in contact with a very narrow section of the population), plus I'm really interested to see how American Apparel will sell itself and its mission to Tokyo's materialistic, image-conscious, and infamously thoughtless youth.
This coming week at school is "I-Week." The "I" stand for "International," and I'm really curious to see what it's going to be about. There will be performances and lectures, including one or two on whether or not Japan is really international (I think I can answer that... no) and how it can become so. I think one of these lectures will actually be given by a Zainichi speaker, whose thoughts/experiences/opinions I would be really interested to hear, except that I don't think this particular lecture includes "stimulus translation" (I think the flyer's makers meant "simultaneous translation" when they chose this happy pair).
My blog entries are way too long, don't you think?
The Red Sox were swept out.
The Astros are still in it.
Tonight, Hurricanes at Islanders.
posted by Bibhatsu at 02:44
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