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Hi Fu Mi no Shirabe (Don't know which version)

一二三の調

[Genre]Honkyoku

Hi Fu Mi no Shirabe (Don't know which version) appears on the following albums

Album Artist
Play ButtonAutumn Field - Yearning for the Bell Volume 4 Shakuhachi : Riley Kōho Lee
One, Two, Three, Search!

This is one of many 'searching' pieces in the honkyoku repertoire. The meaning of the first three characters in this context is unknown, though they may refer to the 'three jewels' of Buddhism. The final character, pronounced cho, has many meanings, including 'melody' and 'tuning', as well as 'search'. These short pieces function primarily as a searching for a 'way' towards a complete awareness of one's present situation.

Chikusei Shakuhachi : Matsumoto Kyozan

Fuke Shu Honkyoku; Kyotaku Shakuhachi : Nishimura Koku
Play ButtonHi Kyoku Shakuhachi : Tokuyama Takashi
As an introduction to the study of koten honkyoku, Hifumi-no-shirabe is often the first piece attempted by the novice. This piece makes use of an intricate fingering technique that serves to limber up and relax the hands. "Hifumi" - meaning simply "1- 2- 3" - is usually considered the foundation of the koten honkyoku repertoire. By confining the music to the lower register (otsu) of the shakuhachi, tones are more easily produced by the beginner.
Play ButtonHotchiku (CD) Shakuhachi : Watazumi Dōso Roshi
("One-Two-Three Tuning")

"Hi-Fu-Mi" refers to the flute's lowest notes, so this piece, which explores the ostu, or low, octave, is called Hi-Fu-Mi no Shirabe, or sometimes, Dai-Otsu no Shirabe.

Hi-Fu-Mi no Shirabe engages the player in a deep study of low tones, where each sound is experienced one by one.

A 3.15 shaku hocchiku was used for this piece. It was made by a 14-year old boy just before the piece was played, so during the playing bits of bamboo dust from the opening of the holes flew from the bamboo, showing graphically how little this huge piece of bamboo had been altered from its natural state.

Inside Shakuhachi : Juerg Fuyuzui Zurmuehle

Shakuhachi Ma Shakuhachi : Todd Barton