RALPH SAMUELSON began his studies of Kinko school shakuhachi music in 1969 as a graduate student at Wesleyan University under the guidance of Araki Kodo V and later continued shakuhachi studies with Yamato Shudo.

He first traveled to Japan in 1971 to become a student of Yamaguchi Goro, and he has been studying the traditional repertoire and playing style of the Kinko school with Yamaguchi-sensei since that time. He began actively teaching and performing in the United States in 1978.

Mr. Samuelson has performed traditional and contemporary shakuhachi music at numerous concerts in North America, Asia, and Europe. He has been presented in radio and television broadcasts in Japan and the United States and has recorded for several international record labels. He is a frequent guest lecturer at universities and music schools and teaches the shakuhachi in New York, where he is former director of the Asian Cultural Council, a foundation supporting U.S.-Asia cultural exchange.

S-S1c. TEIJI ITO: Watermill

Teiji Ito's undisputed masterpiece Watermill was created in 1971 for the controversial ballet by Jerome Robbins and named for the town on Long Island where Robbins had a peaceful country home. Teiji draws upon Chinese, Tibetan, African, Native American and Japanese ceremonies in creating what many consider his most profound compositional achievement. Based on the ideas of cycles—years, moons, ages and seasons, Watermill is brilliantly brought to life by Teiji colleague Steve Gorn and a brilliant ensemble that includes Teiji’s daughter Tavia Ito. This is music of deep spirituality composed by a pioneer of the New York Underground who is finally getting the recognition he has long deserved.

Steve Gorn: Musical Director, Bansuri Flutes, Hichiriki, Ocarina, Claves
Tavia Ito: Bugaku Drum, Puili (Hawaiian Bamboo Shakers), Javeneses Gongs, Mushi Chachiki (small Japanese Gong), Shakuhachi,
Maraca Mara Purl: Koto, Mushi, Voice, Indian Cymbals
Ralph Samuelson: Shakuhachi, Ryuteki
Yukio Tsuji: Gong, Voice, Zither, Taiko Drum, Kalimba, Steel Drum, Ratchet, Shakuhachi Zishan Ugurlu: Sho, Mushi, Cymbal

1. Prelude/Introduction
2. Spring
3. Running
4. Summer
5. Nightmare
6. Autumn
7. Winter/Epilogue