Presenter: Gunnar Linder, Associate professor, Department of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, Stockholm University.
Abstract
This seminar aims to discuss my introductory chapter to an upcoming anthology on the shakuhachi, the Japanese bamboo flute. The plan is for the anthology to be published by Routledge as part of a SOAS series on Ethnomusicology. The anthology features a total of nine chapters by scholars (mostly Western, since there is almost no research conducted in Japan on this instrument), and four “intermezzos” consisting of interviews that my co-editor and colleague, Dr. Kiku Day, and I conducted with four Japanese practitioners. My introductory chapter goes through the historical texts we have access to, trying to paint a picture of the instrument’s background, and the contexts in which it has been used. The chapter presents some new findings that have not been covered in either Japanese or English language research regarding the continental origins of this instrument. My main concern is whether this chapter is sufficiently clear to provide the reader with a basic understanding of the historical background to the instrument (and, to some extent, its music).
To participants from outside the Department: Please pre-register with Jaqueline Berndt (jberndt@su.se) to allow access to the venue.
