| Bamboo Orchestra's philosophy |
Music is mankind's distinctive culture. Music is similar to linguistic
activities: There are many aspects, spatial diversifications and standards.
It ranges from people sending signals through voice and sound for communication
and confirmation to expressing sophisticated level of artistic, music expression.
It can be said that music and linguistic activities are peculiarly important
methods of expression for human mental acitivities. In the 21st century
we shouldn't separate the many different aspects of music activities and
expression as different entities but should regard such diversity as a
whole entity which is indispensable for human activities. |
Many talented people in the world have taken various approaches to develop
further the music regarded as academic artistry, which completed its musical
form in the Western World between the 19th and the beginning of the 20th
century. However due to the rejection of the implicit beauty and artistic
expression such completed musical form represent many otherwise talented
people have overly espoused such form or have inclined to reject pretentiously
the tonality such form represent. As a result, the works which they have
made neither possessed the musical appeal to reach people's hearts nor
developed into musical form which the majority of people anticipated. When
people listen to music, they intrinsically perceive musical tonality and
try to attain tranquility in their hearts. This is thoroughly natural due
to the constructive and physical nature of natural harmony which is characteristic
of sound itself. |
On the other hand, traditional music transmitted
from generation to generation in respective areas and ethnic communities
has accumulated its place in the lives, cultures, and the many ways of
the people through long periods of time. There are language differences
between countries and dialectic differences between regions; by the same
token, there are differences in traditional music which has found its
rightful place in respective cultures. Therefore because traditional
music is so much an integeral part of a given culture it cannot transcend
geographic boundaries and ethnic communities to become a commonly shared
experience by all cultures and peoples. What does it mean "To search for music that could be shared from the bottom
of the heart by all" It means to search for music which is possible to
take into account individual sensibilities, to have respect for cultural
backgrounds, to possess appeals for everyone's hearts, and to provide everyone
a chance to take part in the music. One must be careful of the optimistic
music principle centering around the music of the Western World in which
people tend to think that "There is no boundary in music" even though such
thought is based on the notion that the 12 average harmonics and the corresponding
harmonic music technique are, at present, deemed the most excellent form
of musical expression the world has ever attained, and that such music
is propagated mainly in the most industrialized, advanced countries. Much
of the music that is prevalent in the world is based on different values
and richness than those of the Western World. |
Music industry produces Japanese pops and contemporary
songs, or even World Music laced with a degree of ethnomusic style. Even
though such music is accepted by people, it is only a one-way communication.
It represents works by only a single category of music specialists who
offer them entertainment. This type of music is of a totally different
context in view of our quest or "The music that could be shared from the bottom of the heart by all".
That's because music is a very important and principal means of expression
for human spiritual,mental activity. We are searching for a way to bring
back the whole of musical well-being into the lives of healthy human relationships;
we are not suppressing the desire for musical expression which all people
have in their heart. |
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Bamboo is a rare plant originating in Asia and it is also growing in
South and Central Americas, Africa and Europe. In botany, bamboo belongs
to the grass family; however, its characteristics thickness, length and
elasticity resemble those of a tree. It is used in diverse fields, from
construction materials, furniture and various household items to medicine,
paper and foodstuff. The growth of bamboo is very fast, so cutting it down
doesn't harm the environment. It is an especially important material for
the 21st century since mankind places symbiois of nature and human being
as its top priority. Making instruments out of bamboo has been done in
many regions in Asia since antiquity, providing defining tone to the music
of many ethnic communities. There is no material more fitting than bamboo
to make instruments out of because the hollow structure of bamboo can be
readily made into resonating pipes. Thus wind and percussion instruments
can be easily made, generating different tones. |
The philosophy of Bamboo Orchestra in anticipation
of the new century is to compose music which could be shared by all from
the heart through "the
very resonating sound" derived from bamboo, natural material in nature.
The creation of bamboo music transcends all ethnic identities, personalities,
multitudes of music knowledge and genres when each person humbly faces
the bamboo one of nature's gifts and its resonating sound. The process
of such creative musical synthesis results in the evolution of new relationships
between nature and people, and between people themselves. |
Bamboo Orchestra is the general term of one activity. Numerous professional
and non-professional Bamboo Orchestras would be started in many places
in the world, developing bamboo music as an activity for musical expression.
Even for adults, great enjoyment could be found in performing instruments
which they themselves make out of bamboo. Even greater enjoyment and benefits
could be especially demonstrated in aesthetic,music education for children.
When children come into contact with bamboo's natural material in nature
they appreciate man's symbiotic relationship with nature. They would comprehensively
appreciate man's symbiotic relationship with nature through their actual
handling of bamboo natural material in nature. The activities of Bamboo
Orchestra in education should serve as another important pillar of our
social services to communities. |
I believe that the calm,warm, and resonating tone of bamboo instruments
is useful in music therapy for people suffering from mental anguish. As
for the development in such fields, we look forward to coordinating with
psychiatrists and music therapists. |