History (John Singer):

Tsuki no Kyoku appears on the following albums

	Album	Artist
	Complete Collection of Honkyoku from the Kinko School - Vol 2 - Disc 2	Shakuhachi : Aoki Reibo II
	Emptiness of the Sky, The	Shakuhachi : Andreas Fuyu Gutzwiller
This is the only piece to have been included in the complete edition of the Kinko school's honkyoku, although it does not belong to the pieces legitimized by Kurosawa Kinko in the 18th century. It was composed by Araki Chikuo (1823-1908), and is set almost entirely in the classical style. The title means 'Moon music'. A striking jump over the space of two octaves, which is heard roughly two-thirds of the way through the, work, symbolizes the rising moon. Shortly before the end, the piece modulates -which is unusual for classical shakuhachi music -from the honchosi key (D) to akebono joshi (A).
	Hankyō 反響	Shakuhachi : Kodō Araki VI
"Tsuki no Kyoku is a composition of my great-great-grandfather after whom I was named."
	Kinko Ryu Honkyoku - 6	Shakuhachi : Aoki Reibo II
	Shakuhachi no Shinzui-Shakuhachi Honkyoku - 12	Shakuhachi : Yamaguchi Gorō
	Yamaguchi Gorō - Kinko-ryū Shakuhachi Honkyoku Zenshū 11	Shakuhachi : Yamaguchi Gorō
	Zen Music - V	Shakuhachi : Yamaguchi Gorō
It was composed by Araki Chikuo (1823) as his last opus. He was born as a third son of a samurai and liked Shakuhachi as a child. Araki Kodo, II, gave him the title name. He is respected as the restorer of Kinko-ryu and as the founder of modern Shakuhachi music. Because, it was he together with his fellow, Yoshida Itcho, who proposed to the government that Shakuhachi as a musical instrument rather than as a religious one (it used to be regarded so) should be open to the public. His proposal was admitted, even though it was after the government had prohibited Fuke-shu and Fuke Shakuhachi in the cultural revolution in early Meiji. This piece was not actually completed by himself but was supplemented by another person. So, it is natural if one feels something heterogeneous toward the end. It is not intended to be sacred or religious. But it can be stylistically regarded as belonging to the tradition of Kinko-ryu Shakuhachi, for it is purely instrumental and unlike Koto or Shamisen musics. With free metric, it provides contemplation over the moon, a clear, cold atmosphere, and mono no aware (pathos). It should be noted that such a special technique as used in the well-known piece, 'Shika no Tone', is applied also in this piece. It may be designated 'somersault' technique in that a gradual upward portamento is followed by a sudden downward slide, and then by a series of staccatos.
	Zen Music with Ancient Shakuhachi - Disc 1	Shakuhachi : John Singer
(Moon Melody) This piece was composed by the 2nd Araki Kodo (Araki Chikuo). It is the only Kinko Ryu Honkyoku whose composer is clearly known. The piece begins in the lower octave which is associated with quiet evenings. Then, the melody progresses to a higher range and, for a time, the feeling of a bright full moon is conveyed. Araki continued to try and improve Tsuki No Kyoku but died before finishing it. Nevertheless, this is a fine piece and considered to be complete in its present form.