The Victorian performer has travelled the world touring with the Japanese bamboo flute and has continually pushed the barriers in her own ability with the instrument for the past 28 years.

Norman was yesterday testing the acoustics at the Brisbane Street venue, painting its walls with echoes of its haunting tones. 

‘‘I lived in Japan for many years,Istudied three lineages of shakuhachi,’’ she said.

‘‘I was around about 24 or 25 when I set off on a world adventure, just exploring and I ended up after six months in Japan. 

‘‘I was short of funds, so I started to look for a job and then I looked for the shakuhachi.’’

Her curiosity over the traditional Japanese instrument was spurred by an article in the Lonely Planet Guide, where she found it referenced as a bamboo clarinet.

‘‘I just took up shakuhachi as a hobby with the local shakuhachi teacher in Kobe city, that was in 1986,’’ Norman said.

‘‘I was a professional flute player,  I thought bamboo clarinet sounded interesting, so I wanted to check it out.

‘‘My first encounter was a bit disappointing because it wasn’t a clarinet at all, it was a flute and I’d always played flute and so, of course, I liked it.’’

She now tours for about eight months at a time.

WHAT: Whispered Shadows: A recital of shakuhachi.

WHERE: Design Tasmania, Launceston.

WHEN: Sunday, includes tea and wine tasting with the performance at 12.30pm.