Goro Yamaguchi

   
Artist: Goro Yamaguchi

   Genre(s): 
Ethnic
   

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Discography:


   
 Art Of The Shakuhachi Flute

   Year: 1988   
Tracks: 4

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Goro Yamaguchi is to the highest degree probably the superlative Japanese shakuhachi player of the second half of the twentieth century. He was recognised by the Japanese politics for his artistic contributions and was designated "National Living Treasure" in 1992. He passed aside on January 3, 1999, at long time 65. Yamaguchi was natural in 1933 to a musical household. His father was a celebrated shakuhachi performing artist and his mother a shamisen and koto player. His father taught him the Kinko style, unitary of the two major shakuhachi styles of the 20th century. During the postwar period, Yamaguchi speedily became unmatched of the most respected shakuhachi players in Japan. He received many awards and was often sent abroad by the Japanese politics as cultural embassador. He also produced numerous LPs, CDs, and video teaching tapes and appeared regularly on radio receiver and telecasting. Until his death, he taught shakuhachi at the Tokyo University for the Arts, the only national university in Japan with a traditional music department. Goro Yamaguchi was a blue-blooded, private person with little desire for publicity, yet his influence was felt approximately the world. His music demonstrated a rest between the elements needful to take on sankyoku ensemble and honkyoku solo medicine. In his precept, he continually distressed that music cannot be divorced from everyday life -- other than the music becomes soulless. His philosophy of shakuhachi playing could be summed up in the following argument: One's life must become musical and one's music must suit one's life history. An obit by Christopher Yohmei Blasdel appeared in the Japan Times, January 8, 1999.





Pam Tillis