Shomyo

Shomyo is the Japanese term for reciting or singing the name and word of god. During the 6th and 7th centuries, as Buddhism spread from India via China through Asia, the Buddhist Sutras, or spiritual teachings, also gradually made their way to Japan.

The practice of sung recitation became one of the central methods for achieving the cleansing and salvation of the soul, and was practiced as an ascetic exercise by the faithful. Although variation is used in tone and rhythm, for instance through the stretching of vowels, the goal is neither musical development nor the arousal of emotions such as joy or melancholy. Rather, the practice is intended to use the spiritual energy of the voice to bridge the gap between humanity and god, and to allow for the realization of inner peace.

The chanting promotes physical and spiritual relaxation, whereby spiritual energy is renewed and true consciousness is achieved, allowing for the heart to disengage itself towards freedom. The monks' Shomyo singing and the celebration of their rituals were woven into a story about loss, grief and insight. The Buddhist saying „Sho Yoku Chi Shoku” („To have a little desire and be satisfied with a little gain”) became its central theme.

Artists

OSAKA SHOMYO
Wajun Momoo – choral direction, voc
Kenryo Shibata – calligraphy, voc
Kyujun Suzuki – voc
Juntetsu Nakanishi – voc
Yujun Onoe – voc

LIQUID SOUL
Gert Anklam – saxophone, sheng
Beate Gatscha – hang, dance
Karin Nakagawa – koto, voc
Saichu Yohansyah – gong, singing bowl
Uwe Walter – shakuhachi, voc, dance

Thanks

For their kind and generous support, we wish to thank: Juntoku Deguchi, Japan Foundation & Shinnyo-En Deutschland, IMA Lofts – Berlin & Dr. Ulrike Kirsch – Oranienburg, Triguna Center – Berlin
press and promotion: Rita Preuss & Michiko Ogura

Through the project the monks could collect 2500,- Euro as donation for the Orphanage „MUTOU's house” in HIGASHI-MATSUYAMA.

Presse

Die Jazzmeile, die bis Fukushima reicht
Presserezension Thüringer Allgemeine

Programmheft Berlin