Shomyo no Kai: "Voices of a Thousand Years"

[DGA]

Shomyo is an ancient singing practice that is carried in in the Tendai and Shingon schools. Its qualities are very hard to describe. There was a recent performance at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC that is very much worth giving a listen to. Enjoy:

http://www.kennedy-center.org/explorer/videos/?id=M5794

[Seishin]

Fantastic shomyo, love it. I'll never be that good.

Gassho,
Seishin

[jikai]

@Seishin san ,
Are you learning Shomyo in English? Or Japanese?

@Jikan san,
I'm really intrigued by what I've heard about the English Shomyo at New York betsuin. Are there any recordings of this out there?

Gassho,
Jikai.

[Seishin]

At the moment I'm not learning any. But anyone who has heard me singing well tell you that I'll never be any good at Shomyo!

[DGA]

@Seishin san ,
Are you learning Shomyo in English? Or Japanese?

@Jikan san,
I'm really intrigued by what I've heard about the English Shomyo at New York betsuin. Are there any recordings of this out there?

Gassho,
Jikai.

Much of the shomyo is untranslatable and sung in the traditional syllables.

There are some pieces, such as Gobai, that were translated into English in such a way as to preserve the rhythm, melody, and sense by Yamada sensei. There used to be a set of audio files available someplace but I don't have access to them now, unfortunately. Shomon Pia Trans in Denmark may have that material available; her contact information is found at www.tendai.eu

Learning shomyo takes time and effort. or maybe I'm a slow learner? it took me several weeks just to manage the words "shi shi mo san kai" without getting a correction!

[DGA]

I had a moment so I got out my notes and my shomyo practice book. Here are some more particulars.

These are the Shomyo pieces that we practice in English:
Sorai Sambo
Shihou Nembutsu (includes the Sanskrit names of Buddhas and bodhisattvas)
Gobai
Sanrai
Shichi Butsu Tsukaige
Kujo Shakujo (nine parts to this)

These we practice in Japanese:
Ko Nembutsu
Kassatsu

These are in traditional Sino-Sanskrit syllables:
Shichi Bongo San
Shichi Kango San
Ko Shichisan

I'm sure I've missed some. Just speaking personally, there are some of the translations that stand out as particularly well done. the Kujo Shakujo is a joy to practice. Shichi Butsu Tsukaige is beautiful.

[Doko]

I have really taken a liking to Ko Nembutsu and Kassatsu lately.