Tsuru-no-Sugomori
for flute solo
by Wil Offermans

Published by Musikverlag Zimmermann (ZM 33720)
- instrumentation: flute solo
- duration: 9 minutes
- score: 3 pages
- text in: English and German
- year of publication: 1999
- introduction by Heinz-Dieter Reese
- including exercises on pitch bending and breathing circles (3 pages)

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Tsuru-no-Sugomori

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This transcription of Tsuru-no-sugomori is based on an interpretation by the shakuhachi master Katsuya Yokoyama. His superb performance clearly demonstrates the possibilities of the shakuhachi. With its flexible sound (e.g. in dynamic, timbre, intonation and wind-’noise’), the intense use of the breath and its deep-rooted history the shakuhachi has been attracting the interest of many flutists around the world. Some of the sounds in this traditional flute music may be regarded by Western flutists as ‘modern’ or ‘new’. However, the shakuhachi player seems to concentrate on the breathing, accepting the sound itself as a natural consequence. Typically, the shakuhachi player doesn’t use any tonguing, but instead starts a sound from the breath and sometimes in combination with the finger (the so-called finger-tonguing!). Especially characteristic are the numerous vibrato techniques (including pitch-bending, glissandi and portamenti). Beside the Western style vibrato, called ‘ikiyuri’, a vibrato can be performed by shaking the head. Swinging the head to the left and right (like shaking ‘no’) is called ‘yokoyuri’. Shaking the head up and down (like shaking ‘yes’) is called ‘tateyuri’. Shaking the head in circles creates the ‘mawashiyuri’ vibrato. When the instrument itself is quickly moved up and down we get a ‘takeyuri’ vibrato. Bending the pitch down by covering the embouchure-hole with the lower-lip (up to a minor third!) creates the characteristic ‘meri’. Bending the pitch up by uncovering the embouchure-hole, is called ‘kari’. (etc...)