Wartburg College professor Eric Wachmann will perform a shakuhachi recital Saturday, Jan. 21.

Dr. Wachmann, professor of music, will present “Shika No Tone: The Distant Cry of Deer” at 7:30 p.m. in the Wartburg Chapel. The shakuhachi, an end blown flute, is a traditional instrument from Japan.

The event is free and open to the public.

Wachmann, who is also principal clarinet with the Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, is an active performer and teacher on the shakuhachi.

“The shakuhachi began as a folk instrument in the eighth century,” Wachmann said. “By the 15th century, it had become a tool for spirituality, particularly in the practice of Zen Buddhism. It has been an important part of traditional classical ensemble music in Japan since the mid-1800s.”

The recital will feature the instrument in music from a variety of time periods.