James Nyoraku 如楽 Schlefer
如楽
Born 1956
Shakuhachi & Composer
james@nyoraku.com
https://www.nyoraku.com/
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“James Nyoraku Schlefer occupies a special place in [New York City’s] cultural life, composing and performing music that bridges Western and Japanese styles.” The New Yorker JAMES NYORAKU SCHLEFER, SHAKUHACHI, received the Dai-Shi-Han (Grand Master) certificate in 2001, and his second Shi-Han certificate in 2008, from the Mujuan Dojo in Kyoto. He has performed at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, Tanglewood and BAM, as well as multiple venues across the country and in Japan, Indonesia, Brazil and Europe. Schlefer first encountered the shakuhachi in 1979, while working towards a career as a flute player and pursuing an advanced degree in musicology. Today he is considered by his colleagues to be one of most influential Western practitioners of this distinctive art form. Known to his students as Nyoraku sensei, Schlefer established his own dojo in NYC in 1996. He also teaches shakuhachi at Columbia University, a broad spectrum of Western and World music courses at New York City College of Technology (CUNY), and performs and lectures at colleges and universities throughout the United States. As a composer, Schlefer has written multiple chamber and orchestral works combining Japanese and Western instruments as well as numerous pieces solely for traditional Japanese instruments. In December 2015, he was recognized by Musical America Worldwide as one of their “30 Top Professionals and Key Influencers” for his work both as a composer and Artistic Director of Kyo-Shin-An Arts. His writings about the shakuhachi and his career were published in 2018 on NewMusicBox and he was profiled by the National Endowment for the Arts’ “Arts Works Blog” in May 2016. His programming for Kyo-Shin-An Arts has also been recognized with two CMA/ASCAP Awards for Adventurous Programming (2013 and 2016). His orchestral music can be heard on the recording Spring Sounds Spring Season MSR Classics. www.nyoraku.com
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Teachers
Kurahashi Yōdō II Mitsuhashi Kifu Ronnie Nyogetsu Reishin Seldin Taniguchi Yoshinobu Yokoyama Katsuya Students
Marco Burmester Victoria Yuraku Murray Brand
Brian Tairaku Ritchie 1960 - |
Albums
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Buddha and Bonsai New Age album with prominent shakuhachi solos throughout. |
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Flare Up |
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IN THE MOMENT Classic Honkyoku |
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Light of Asia New Age recording with shakuhachi solos throughout. |
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Solstice Spirit Several honkyoku, a composition by Fukuda Rando, and two of Nyoraku's own including an extended suite for an orchestra of 18 variously-sized shakuhachi. |
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SPRING SOUNDS, SPRING SEAS Original Compositions by: JAMES NYORAKU SCHLEFER: "Haru No Umi Redux", "Shakuhachi Concerto" DARON HAGEN: "Koto Concerto: Genji" JAMES NYORAKU SCHLEFER shakuhachi YUMI KUROSAWA 20-string koto ORCHESTRA OF THE SWAN KENNETH WOODS conductor DAVID CURTIS conductor |
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Wind Heart Honkyoku and modern music for the shakuhachi. |
Tracks Recorded
Composed or Arranged
| Shakuhachi Compositions | |||
| Title | Kanji | Year | Alternate Title |
| Variations on Amazing Grace | 1996 |
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| Solstice Spirit | 1997 |
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| Timeless Moment | 1997 |
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| San'ya (Brooklyn) | 1999 |
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| Flare Up | 2002 |
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| Duo No. 1 for Shakuhachi and Koto | 2004 |
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| Duo No. 2 for Shakuhachi and Shamisen | 2006 |
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| Quintet for Shakuhachi and String Quartet | 2006 |
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| Duo No. 3 for Shakuhachi and 20-string Koto | 2007 |
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| SHAKUHACHI DUETS | 2007 |
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| THE PRACTICAL SHAKUHACHI | 2008 |
Etudes for Technical Development | |
| Concerto for Shakuhachi and Chamber Orchestra | 2009 |
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| Haru no Umi Redux | 2010 |
Shakuhachi, Koto, String Orchestra | |
| OASHISU - Shakuhachi, Koto, Cello, Percussion | 2010 |
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| A Smile on the Buddha Calm | 2011 |
Shakuhachi, Piano, Violin, Cello | |
| Sankyoku No. 1 | 2011 |
Shakuhachi, Koto, Cello | |
| Take Rei | 竹鈴 |
2011 |
Shakhachi and Crotales |