I have a challenge for any shamisen group willing to accept. I was listening to a beautiful version of Maurice Ravel’s String Quartet, more specifically the second movement, Assez Vif, and I thought it would make a good shamisen cover. Alas, being only one shamisen player, I alone can not do it justice. So, I am challenging those willing members of the Bachido community to arrange and record their best version of the piece. Good Luck.
A good video of Ravel’s String Quartet, second movement.
Albert,
I accept this challenge!!!
Good luck’s the word 
Why don’t ya just come out and say it…MONSTERS! YE HAVE BEEN CHALLENGED!!!
I Wanna see Circus Galop on Shamisen… 
Kevin,
I can’t wait to hear it.
Kevin you might have noticed, but 50% of the whole performance comes from sudden head movements causing the hair of the player to shake in such a way that the listener’s soul is pierced by awesomeness. Therefore, you must know that if you ever perform this piece, your hair needs to be shaken accordingly.
haha Karl
i also just stared at the players reactions to their playing
semi-hilarious
(guess Kevin is gonna make it SHAMI-HILARIOUS LOL!!! bad joke…)
oooooooo I can’t wait to see what Kevin (and hopefully others!) can put together!
This whole thread is a fantastic idea too Albert! There could be like a monthly challenge for those willing and able to participate. It’s fun, pushes everyone to improve their skills, creates a fresh, friendly challenge amongst everyone, and who doesn’t love bragging rights? But maybe make the others not quite so challenging as I expect this one to be haha; maybe have individual challenges as well.
there I go rambling again haha
(guess Kevin is gonna make it SHAMI-HILARIOUS LOL!!! bad joke…)
Oh god…[cringes]
In the spirit of this challenge, I managed to record my version of another Ravel piece, “Bolero”. It’s a little rough, because I’m bad at recording and mediocre at the shamisen. And just so you know, the head bobs and facial expressions are nearly involuntary.
Great tone for bolero! I enjoyed your performance here! My biggest piece of advice to you is to never refer to yourself as mediocre. EVER! You really rock this! Especially after the halfway point and on to the end! You’re playing with a lot of feeling plus you are putting in the rhythm parts too! Excellent work! If by mediocre you mean to reference the slight intonation problems or something (?) I say nevermind! That’s superficial stuff that will correct itself naturally over time! More importantly you have the spirit of a lion! Embrace that and “Only” that and surely your self expression and enjoyment of Shamisen will increase tenfold !
Yes i agree with Kevin and the head bopping only makes you look more pro seriously head bopping and expressions are good it gives the listener/watcher the feeling that you enjoy your playing which gives the feeling that you take your playing serious.
Enjoyed listening to this nice job!
but to give some “negative” criticism or something like that… Do you own Kyle’s book Shamisen of Japan? if so i THINK that you have one “problem” which Kyle and i guess all of us had at some point (or still has) is the “waving” bachi. Meaning that you slide the bachi after making a strike… Just read the part about waving bachi from Shamisen of japan. I might also be wrong but it kinda looks like you do that…
Bachi on!
Wow! I went back to watch the video again after reading the observation from Ortjo. I have to say, your computer must be set to very bright because truthfully I can’t see the bachi hand very well. It is almost all in the dark on my screen. Could just be the screen setting though. But I can hear the sound very clearly so that’s cool! Next time you make a video I recommend lighting the scene a bit more. If you have some kind of portable lamp or something that you can aim at the bachi hand? Might work well.
Oh i can see it pretty clear (put it on fullscreen)
But as i said i’m not sure about it but it looks like the “waving”
Ok folks. Using garage band I played some of the other parts (cello, viola and second violin ) on Shamisen and played the first violin part live. It’s only a little hint right now (just the first bit) but I hope to learn and record the whole thing someday! Thanks Albert for the challenge! Enjoy everyone . . .
http://www.youtube.com/embed/K-m06-ry9eY?list=UUIHcI2lwoIq9kIclHRTfDow"
Whoa! Is that a can of illy coffee on your keyboard? I think I know who sent you a paaackaaage. 
Oh snap! You got the whole orchestra!
Whew! Good job Kevin!!!
I have been admittedly been absent from this thread. Seeing the first video, I knew there was no way I’d be able to attempt it without dedicating enough time to memorize the piece. But I’m happy to see that both Kevin and Albert have taken it on!
One question though… no spinner?
Yes! This video is part Ravel and part tribute to the great package I received from Austria! From our three stringed playing Taxi driver friend B. H. ! Thanks Bernhard!
Haha such awesomeness Kevin!
Waiting for the whole version
very happy to see the gifts got through to you I am surprised to see that even the cup (swag from our airport) seems to be intact haha a can of Illy I hope Kyle you get one of those soon too should be a matter of a few days at most I guess yours are beans though and therefore the whole package makes a rattling sound so I hope it is not held up in security or something
anyway Kevin thanks also for that definitely to me funny video and everything earlier
Sound great, Kevin. Some of the parts came together better than I thought they could. Also, what tuning did you have to go to? for what parts I managed to get, I was in a similar tuning to that of a violin where ever string is a fifth of the string below.
Thank you for taking on my challenge. I look forward to the entire piece.