Striking Light, Striking Dark Duo: Shakuhachi and Song

Striking Light Striking Dark Duo formed in 2014, with the release of a CD of the same name. This CD featured selected poetry sung from the works of Rainer Maria Rilke (Germany), Pablo Neruda (Chile), John Logan, Sam Hamill (American) and the ancient Japanese Zen-inspired text, Kyotaku Denki, set to original compositions by Sasha Bogdanowitsch (voice and various world instruments) and Christopher Yohmei Blasdel (Shakuhachi).

The shakuhachi— Japan’s traditional vertical bamboo flute—makes the perfect blend to Sasha’s fluid voice. The duo makes use of an array of rare world and original instruments, such as the kamelengoni, lumen electronic handpan, mbira array and the mountain dulicmer, to dramatize and enrich the songs. Their work is a perfect example of cross-genre, cross-cultural music that stimulates both on an artistic and intellectual level.

The performance in Orvis Auditorium will feature selections from the CD, plus works from their upcoming new album and a premiere of a brand new multi-movement work based on Rabindranath Tagore’s “Gitanjali.” This is the first concert of the Duo in Hawai’i since their sold-out performance at HPR’s Atherton Studio in 2018. Admission is free. 

Christopher Yohmei Blasdel is a Hawai’i based performer, educator and published writer. internationally known for his expertise in Japanese music and master of the shakuhachi bamboo flute, he teaches and performs in festival throughout the globe and has helped introduce the shakuhachi to the world. He maintains a strong base in the classical shakuhachi repertory while working with other artists in cross-genre collaborations, including theater, dance and the visual arts. Christopher presently teaches Japanese Music at University of Hawai’i, Mānoa.

Sasha Bogdanowitsch is a USA composer, vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and educator, whose work includes music for theater, dance and film, interdisciplinary performance, concert music and original songs. His compositional output is heavily influenced by his studies of world, folk, early and contemporary music. Sasha has performed worldwide and throughout the USA in venues such as: Carnegie Hall, Whitney Museum, Symphony Space, BAM and Roulette. ‘’…winning authenticity.” NY Times.