_edited.png)
"shō" (2023)
-- written by my Grandpa
Henry Liang is a Sydney-based traditional Japanese music performer specializing in the shō, an ancient mouth organ used in Japan’s imperial court music known as gagaku. With a deep commitment to preserving and sharing the rich cultural heritage of Japanese music, Henry brings the timeless sounds of traditional Japan to contemporary Australian audiences. Whether performing at concerts, cultural festivals, or educational events, he offers a rare and authentic experience of Japanese court music in Sydney and across Australia. Bookings are available for solo performances, collaborations, and workshops.
shō | 笙
- a Japanese wind instrument consisting of seventeen carefully chosen bamboo pipes, shaped symmetrically to resemble a phoenix with folded wings. Each pipe is embedded with a tiny metal reed attached by heated tree-resin and bee-wax.
- sound can be produced both on inhalation and exhalation, inspiring subsequent Western free-reed instruments such as the accordion and harmonica.
- introduced to Japan from China over 1000 years ago, the shō was first used in Japanese imperial court music known as Gagaku(雅楽). This "elegant music" was performed exclusively for emperors and aristocrats.
- due to the dedication and boldness of individuals such as Miyata Mayumi sensei and Prof. Barbara Ruch, this important art-form continues to live on.
Let's create more spaces where the shō can sing, now, again.
Photo by Bronte Godden