The European Shakuhachi Society

Year: 2024

  • One

    OneTwo

    OneTwoThree

    OneTwoThreeFour

    OneTwoThreeFourFive

    OneTwoThreeFourFiveSix

  • ESS Finland 2024 – Thank you!

    A really big thank you to everyone who joined us at Friendship Inn for this year’s ESS Summer School in Finland – the northern-most Summer School so far!

    © WimScheenen

    It was a huge success, set in the gorgeous setting of Kruusila by the lake, the week consisted of wonderful exchanges, warm sunsets, hot saunas, world premieres, and a lot of unforgettable moments shared with all the participants, teachers, and organisers.

    – ESS team

  • ESS New Commission: World Premiere

    In 2024 the ESS approached world renowned composer Marty Regan to create a special ‘group piece’ for Finland 2024. Marty’s new work, Echoes of the Taiga, was premiered at the Sibelius Museum in Turku, performed by teachers and participants of the Summer School.

    © Wim Scheenen

    Teachers and Participants – Echoes of the Taiga (composed by Marty Regan, 2024) World Premiere (9 min)

    Shakuhachi I (1.8): Tani Yasunori, Gunnar Jinmei Linder, Aaro Haavista, Daniel Ribble, Larysa Istomina, Etsuko Kondo, Michael Hartley, Jaakko Kuikka

    Shakuhachi II (1.8): Hélène Seiyu Codjo, Thorsten Knaub, Otto Eskelinen, Sakari Heikka, Nina Haarer, Adrian Sheriff, Antonin Jech, Martijn van Sliedregt

    Shakuhachi III (2.4): Riley Lee, Emmanuelle Rouaud, Kiku Day, Michael Gregory

    You can read a review of the world premiere here (in Finnish – or download a PDF translation in English here)

  • ESS Commissions New Shakuhachi Music!

    The ESS is thrilled to announce a special commission for this year’s Summer School in Finland:  We asked world renowned composer Marty Regan to create a special ‘group piece’ for Finland 2024 which will have its World Premiere at the Sibelius Museum in Turku. This ‘group piece’ will be performed by teachers and participants of the Summer School and welcomes players of all levels too. Read more here.

    To find out all the details for this year’s ESS Summer School and to sign up, visit https://finland2024.shakuhachisociety.eu/

  • ESS Summer School 2024: Finland!

    The ESS in collaboration with the Finnish Shakuhachi Association is preparing the ESS Summer School in Finland in 2024. The dates are from 29. July to 1. August 2024.

    Like every Summer School, we will offer a range of workshops, talks and lESSons from established teachers and shakuhachi practitioners covering a wide array of different shakuhachi schools and styles. This year we have for the first time a major Ueda-ryū player as guest and another special ingredient in this years’ event will be a hitoyogiri making workshop.

    From Japan we welcome Tani Yasunori, iemoto daihyo (representing the iemoto) dai-shihan of Ueda-ryū, who will present Ueda-ryū honkyoku and sankyoku, from Australia Riley Lee will be teaching Chtkuho-ryū honkyoku and contemporary pieces, Gunnar Jinmei Linder from Chikumeisha will teach sōkyoku and honkyoku, Hélène Seiyu Codjo will present Hijiri-Kai pieces and own compositions, Kiku Day will present Zensabo and Myoan honkyoku, Emmanuelle Rouaud will teach KSK honkyoku, shinkyoku and moving image improvisation sESSion with Thorsten Knaub who will also present jiari-shakuhachi making and a shakuhachi clinic, and our special guest for koto/shamisen accompaniment and teaching will be Naoko Kikuchi.

    Our special guests and co-organisers from the Finnish Shakuhachi Association, Aaro Haavisto will teach Ueda-ryū basics and lead the hitoyogiri-making workshop, Otto Eskelinen introduces us to Finnish folk music played on shakuhachi and Sakari Heikka will present a workshop on how to play and improvise with scales and modes on shakuhachi. Last but not least Sangen Salo will give us a taste of zazen and his take on shakuhachi & zen.

    Programme & Registration

    This is not all. Please see our draft schedule on the website for current timetable and other sESSions and talks happening. And please note, in general our programme caters for all levels – from beginner/elementary to intermediate to advanced.

    Visit our dedicated website where you will find all the different registration options (accommodation/meals packages or summer school participation only) and also can complete our new online registration there. ESS members receive discounted registration fees.

    All the info here: https://finland2024.shakuhachisociety.eu/

    See you in Finland!

    With the support of the Scandinavia-Japan Sasakawa Foundation.

  • New Workshops – June 2024

    New Workshops – June 2024

    Last but not least…. the final event in the ESS Online Season 2023-24 is approaching.

    But rather than winding down we turn the dial to 11 and put together a very exciting event around Shakuhachi & Improvisation on Sunday 2 June 2024.

    This sESSion brings with it a rare opportunity to hear Ned Rothenberg and his take and philosophy of using shakuhachi in the improvisation context. We are very happy to have him on board for this event. Equally happy though we are with our other two guests Detta Danford and cellist Juliet Colyer who will add their own improvisation flavours to the workshop.

    Read more here: https://online2023-24.shakuhachisociety.eu/event-7/teachers-7

    In general, all playing levels are welcome to take part in the workshops. And as usual, even if one cannot play at the required level, the experience of hearing an expert player and teacher can be part of a learning procESS. So simply sitting in on and listening to a workshop at a higher level can be a valuable experience too. 

    Date: 02 June 2024
    Time (CEST): 10h00 – 12h30 & 15h00 – 17h00
    Fees: ESS members/Non-Members €25/€30
    Registration: https://online2023-24.shakuhachisociety.eu/registration

    Hope to see you there!