How I Began Interview
The shakuhachi (sha-koo-haa-chee) is a unique wind instrument of Japanese tradition, made from a stalk of madake (‘true bamboo’). Crafted by shakuhachi master artisans, each instrument is unique, shaped in part through intuition. It has been used for centuries as a spiritual tool, and as a form of meditative practice.
For over 50 years, I’ve had the pleasure of sharing the beautiful sounds of the shakuhachi throughout the world. The music of the shakuhachi has helped me develop my own meditative practice. It can develop and support your practice, too. Listening to this simple bamboo flute sing for us also reminds us that it, and all of us, are of the natural world; we ARE nature.
Riley Lee is a shakuhachi master who has been playing the Japanese shakuhachi for over 50 years. For over three decades, he has been leading breathing workshops inspired in part by his meditative flute practice. His latest course is available online, accessible anytime.
“Remember the lips where the wind-breath originated, and let your note be clear. Don’t try to end it. Be your note.” Rumi
Better breath awareness leads to better control over all aspects of your life.
Tension hinders optimal breathing.
Awareness encourages optimal breathing.
[Lee’s} sound is so astonishingly pure: it aches with the sadness of loss and the sadness of wisdom, pulses with the joy of being alive and whispers of an elegance almost too exotic to be true.
“Affecting, moving, admirable, the performing techniques involved, especially the breath control, defy belief”.
“…atmospheric, even spell-binding music”, “Echoes of eternal time…haunting”.
“He is, by any standards, a remarkable musician with an amazing command of fractional inflections of tones, achieved with a wide range of finger and breath attacks on every note”. “… Beautifully evocative sounds”.
“Lee could serve as any performer’s model in his ability to capture the attention of his audience immediately and straightforwardly”.
“…a superb musician and an innovative and prolific composer.” “The shakuhachi is a transcendentally beautiful instrument and Lee’s playing has an emotional and meditative power which overwhelms his obvious technical expertise”.
“[Lee’s} sound is so astonishingly pure: it aches with the sadness of loss and the sadness of wisdom, pulses with the joy of being alive and whispers of an elegance almost too exotic to be true.”
“He is, by any standards, a remarkable musician with an amazing command of fractional inflections of tones, achieved with a wide range of finger and breath attacks on every note”. “… Beautifully evocative sounds”
“He is, by any standards, a remarkable musician with an amazing command of fractional inflections of tones, achieved with a wide range of finger and breath attacks on every note”. “… Beautifully evocative sounds”
“…a superb musician and an innovative and prolific composer.” “The shakuhachi is a transcendentally beautiful instrument and Lee’s playing has an emotional and meditative power which overwhelms his obvious technical expertise”.
“[Lee’s} sound is so astonishingly pure: it aches with the sadness of loss and the sadness of wisdom, pulses with the joy of being alive and whispers of an elegance almost too exotic to be true.”
“Affecting, moving, admirable, the performing techniques involved, especially the breath control, defy belief”.
“…atmospheric, even spell-binding music”, “Echoes of eternal time…haunting”
“Lee could serve as any performer’s model in his ability to capture the attention of his audience immediately and straightforwardly”.
