Jet-Black and Silver – Program Notes

This is the first opportunity for me to write for shakuhachi. I have been hoping for this opportunity for a long time -- at least since I had the first chance to write for koto -- about eight years ago. "Strands" for trombone and koto was the first of a number of compositions I wrote for koto, but this is the first time I have written for koto and shakuhachi.

I started by consulting players, listening to recordings, and beginning to read a book that explained the construction and history of the shakuhachi and how to play it.  At a point in the book, the method turned from explanation to "Practicing with the Classics." The student was encouraged to begin studying a real piece of the classic shakuhachi repertoire and keep on learning that way. I decided to do so myself, but in a composer's way. I took hints about the first piece of study in the book and made them the foundation of my composition. It was said to have a well-known poem as its foundation: "Kurokami."  That made it easy for me. I found an English translation of the text and let myself be inspired by its words and poetry, which depicted the relation between a young girl and her fickle and aging lover.

(Stefan Hakenberg, 2006)