Category: News

  • Hoshida Ichizan Iii

    The ESS board wishes to express its deep sadness on learning of the passing away of Hoshida Ichizan III on 14th December 2020.
    We fondly remember his lessons and performances of exceptional quality at the World Shakuhachi Festival in 2018 in London.
    He was one of the major figures of the Tozan-ryū, and his passing is a great loss to the shakuhachi world.
    We also remember him as a kind and energetic person, with a deep wish to share his knowledge.
    To his family: we are so sorry for your loss, and we send you our deepest sympathies.
    Our thoughts also go to all his loved ones. We hope that time will help to heal your pain.

    三代星田一山先生が本年12月14日にご逝去されたとの訃報に接し、ヨーロッパ尺八協会ESS役員会一同、深い悲しみに沈んでおります。思えば2018年、ESSがロンドンにて開催しましたワールド尺八フェスティバルにおいて、尺八レッスンと素晴らしい演奏の質の高さをご披露くださいました。先生は都山流の重鎮であり、尺八界にとりましても失うものが多大です。また先生は寛大かつ精力的な方で、ご自分の豊富な知識を惜しまずに共有してくださったことを懐かしく思い出します。ご家族の皆様のご悲嘆はひとしおであろうと推察いたし、衷心よりお悔やみ申し上げます。また、先生がお心に懸けておられた皆様を想い、時の経過が皆様の心の痛みを癒してくれますよう、ESS役員会一同祈っております。

    Horacio Curti
    on behalf of the European Shakuhachi Society

  • Tatiana Rechnaya

    The ESS Board and Adviser Group are saddened to learn of the untimely passing of the Russian shakuhachi player Tatiana Rechnaya on 16 April 2022. Tatiana and her partner Dima participated in WSF2018. She made many friends there because of her friendly character and her enthusiasm about the shakuhachi and Japanese music in general. At WSF18 Tatiana became a min’yō lover and stayed in contact with Enomoto sensei, who taught min’yō shakuhachi, till the very end. We have lost a beautiful member of the shakuhachi community. She was a sensitive and kind soul who loved peace and music. R.I.P.

  • New Board Elected At Last AGM

    At the last AGM on 5 November 2022 a new board of the European Shakuhachi Society was elected. The new board for the year 2022/23 is as follows:

    Chairperson – Thorsten Knaub
    Treasurer – Emmanuelle Rouaud
    Secretary – Nina Haarer
    Media & Communication Officer – Markus Guhe
    Publication Officers – Cesar Viana & Ramón Humet

  • Online Events Season 2023/24

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    We have announced an exciting series of online events and workshops for 2023-2024, including:

    2023
    • 15 October – Introductory workshop for beginners (Riley Lee, Daniel Ryudo)
    • 11-12 November – Beginner/Elementary workshops (Riley Lee, Daniel Ryudo, Véronique Piron, Elizabeth Reian Bennett)

    2024
    • 21 January – ESS New Year Concert (free – book here)
    • 11 February – StartingUp/Beginner workshops (Christopher Yohmei Blasdel and Kiku Day)
    • 2-3 March – Intermediate/Advanced workshops (Akihito Obama, James Nyoraku Schlefer, Elizabeth Brown, Gunnar Jinmei Linder)
    • A series of five events in April/May 2024 exploring voice and shakuhachi
    – 13 April – Shōmyō Buddhist chant (Junko Ueda)
    – 14 April – Singing honkyoku workshop (Teruo Furuya)
    – 20 April – Voice in sankyoku workshop (Shino Arisawa, Miyama McQueen-Tokita)
    – 27 April – Min’yō workshop (Kinzaburo Abe)
    – 4 May – Vocalising shakuhachi (Anne Norman)
    • 2 June – Shakuhachi & Improvisation (Ned Rothenberg, Detta Danford, Natasha Zielazinski)

    To find out more about the schedules, teachers, and to register for the workshops, visit our dedicated page: https://online2023-24.shakuhachisociety.eu/

  • ESS New Year Concert 2024!

    A big thanks to our audience and performers of the New Year Concert — thank you for sharing that moment together!

    The ESS New Year Concert took place on Sunday 21 January 2024 and had the theme “Shakuhachi Animals”. Some comments from participants:

    Thank You very much
    Thank you everyone who played and thank you to the organisers!
    Thank you. Furuya Sensei thank you!
    Thanks to all the performers and organizers! Great show!
    Thank you, great concert!
    This concert was so amazing, breathtaking and wonderful. Touching me deeply. Thank you to everybody! Am looking forward to the next concerts!

    You can find out more about the concert and read reactions from audience members on the ESS New Year’s Concert page.

  • 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!

  • 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 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

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