![]() ![]() The lyrics are 7 waka, Japanese poems, from a Japanese language schoolbook, with the piece so famous in Japan that it is learned in primary school class. While conforming to the techniques of old, individuality is infused in the scene depiction. (Transformation of water) Michio Miyagi (1894-1956) 1909 play The composer's debut piece, composed at the age of 14. Generally played together with shakuhachi, traditional Japanese bamboo flute, however, the original piece was for an ensemble of koto and kokyu, Chinese violin/fiddle. Composed of Mae-Biki, Mae-Uta, Tegoto, Ato-Uta. A piece from the end of the Shogunate, yet spread all over the country through the Meiji period and is still loved today. ![]() Following the Taisho period (1912-1926), the 17 string bass koto, the 20 string, 25 string, and 30 string koto that further broadened the range, were also created.ġ855 play Tuned to kokinjōshi. Since the Meiji Era (1868-1912), a steady stream of new koto pieces have been produced. ![]() The koto actively features in ensembles with shamisen, a type of traditional Japanese lute, and shakuhachi, a traditional Japanese bamboo flute (and at one time also the kokyu, or Japanese fiddle). Two distinct traditions of koto, the Ikuta school and the Yamada school, also exist. Yatsuhashi Kengyo is widely recognised as the founder of modern koto. In gagaku, traditional Japanese court music, the koto was played as part of an ensemble, after that, as an accompaniment for temple ballads, and actively came to be performed solo during the Edo period (1603-1868). The koto is played with tsume, small plectra or picks, attached to three fingers on the right hand. In general, 13 strings of the same thickness are used, and mobile bridges called kotoji are arranged under the strings for tuning with the instrument tuned in accordance with the piece of music to be played. Aside from the standard 13 string koto there is also a 7 string kin (chinese “qin”) and a 6 string koto called yamatogoto or wagon. The koto was introduced from China, and as a standard, has 13 strings. The character, read as ‘koto’, is used to refer to the Japanese zither. Hon choshi is considered to be the standard tuning for the Sanshin.The koto, a type of Japanese zither, is the most popular Japanese musical instrument. ![]() The Sanshin has 3 silk strings and is played using a plectrum called a bachi which is shaped like a dragon’s claw. The instrument is used in 2 music genres which are traditional music and folk music. Traditionally the instrument’s body was made out of snakeskin, but now artificial snakeskin is being used. The Sanshin is played mainly within the Okinawa prefecture of Japan. The Sanshin is a very rare Japanese instrument which also derives from the Chinese Sanxian. Hon choshi tuning is considered to be the standard tuning for the Shamisen. “Shamisen” by Jérôme Sadou is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0 Here’s a picture of a Shamisen wooden bachi The Shamisen has 3 silk strings and is played using a wooden plectrum called a bachi. The music genres that a Shamisen is used in is: Fortunately synthetic materials are now being used to create Shamisens. Traditionally the instrument’s body was made out of dog skin or cat skin, not very pleasant sounding if you’re a pet owner like myself. The Shamisen/Samisen is a Japanese instrument which derives from the Chinese Sanxian. Hirajoshi tuning is considered to be the standard tuning for the koto. Japanese koto being played with 2 ivory plectrums Traditionally the koto is played using 2 or 3 ivory plectrums on each finger on the right hand where the left hand is used to play openly. The koto’s body is made out of paulownia wood and it has 13 silk strings or it can have 13 nylon strings if it’s modern koto. The instrument was first introduced within a traditional music genre called gakaku also referred to as imperial court music. The koto is a Japanese instrument which derives from the Chinese guzheng. “Koto” by heyexit is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0 If you’re looking to learn more about Japanese music, like listening new kinds of music or just want to write your own Japanese compositions. In this post I’ll be covering the 4 string instruments played in Japanese traditional music. This is quite common for Japan as even the language derives from China. Most traditional Japanese string instruments originate from China. ![]()
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