|
In traditional Japanese music, there are three general types of
instruments - percussion instruments, stringed instruments and
wind instruments, mostly flutes. There is a huge range of instruments
beyond the scope of this page, ranging from bells used in Buddhist
ceremonies to various kinds of drums used in gagaku (Imperial
court music).
In the last few years, there have been a growing number of artists who
have been bringing these instruments to younger audiences. Taiko group Kodo
and young shamisen duo the Yoshida Brothers are two well-known examples of
artists who give the old instruments new life and energy, and have been very
successful abroad.
Below we look at the more commonly heard instruments.
Drums | Stringed Instruments
| Flutes
Kodo drummers at Earth Celebration 1996
Kotsuzumi |
Drums
There are many large Japanese drums, or taiko. Most have two membranes which are nailed or laced and are struck
with sticks. The most dramatic is the Odaiko (big drum). The physical energy and sheer excitement of an Odaiko
performance is an integral part of many Japanese matsuri (festivals). Perhaps because they see this all the time, most
Japanese people don't get particularly excited by taiko performance
groups like Kodo, while foreign audiences are enthralled by them. Each year, Kodo
host Earth Celebration, a festival of taiko drumming, international
music and performance art in their home base on Sado Island. Many
people come to Japan from around the world to enjoy the festival
and it is certainly a highlight of the Japanese cultural calendar.
Kodo also tour extensively abroad every year.
The hourglass-shaped tsuzumi was introduced from the Asian continent around the 7th century
and the name is derived from Sanskrit. Two varieties, the smaller
kotsuzumi and the larger otsuzumi are used in both noh and kabuki performances. The kotsuzumi is held on the right shoulder and
the player alters the tone by squeezing the laces. The otsuzumi
is held on the left thigh. Like all other traditional arts in
Japan, there are several schools of tsuzumi.
|
Koto performance at Meiji Shrine
The Yoshida Brothers 2000 album Move
Biwa
|
Stringed Instruments
The koto is a 13-string zither, about 2 meters long and made of Paulownia
wood. It is plucked using picks on the thumb and first two fingers
of the right hand, while the left hand can be used to modify pitch
and tone. Koto are used in an ensemble in gagaku or as a solo
instrument. One of the most famous koto players and composers
was the blind musician Miyagi Michio (1894~1956), who was heavily influenced by western music.
The shamisen is a 3-string lute. It is believed to be a variant of the Okinawan
sanshin. The length of the shamisen varies from 1.1 to 1.4 meters. It
first became popular in the pleasure districts during the Edo
Period (1600~1868) and also began to be used for the musical accompaniment
in kabuki and bunraku performances. The kabuki variety developed
into its own form of dance music, the nagauta or long song. Shamisen are made from one of a variety of woods
such as red sandalwood and the head covered with cat or dog skin.
The pegs are traditionally made of ivory while the strings are
twisted silk.
Traditional shamisen playing requires the player to be quite stiff and
expressionless. But young players like the Yoshida Brothers or Agatsuma Hiromitsu bring a whole new,
some would say rock and roll, approach that gets young fans in a frenzy of
excitement while putting their elders in a fit of anger.
The biwa is a short-necked lute, used from the 7th century in gagaku,
to accompany early puppet plays and also by blind monk entertainers,
the Japanese equivalent of travelling minstrels. The main character
in one of Japan's most famous legends, The Story of Earless Hoichi was
one of these biwa hoshi (lute priests). There are many styles, the most popular being
Satsuma biwa which was developed in the 16th century. The number
of frets varies from 4 to 6 and strings vary in number from 3
to 5 but there are usually 4. The biwa is held almost vertical
and played with a large bachi (plectrum). |
Flutes
The most famous flute is the shakuhachi bamboo flute. It has 4 or 5 finger holes on the front face and
a thumb hole on the rear face. As with other instruments above,
it was imported from China for gagaku. In medieval times, the
shakuhachi became associated with wandering Buddhist priests known
as komuso or 'priests of nothingness'. They played the shakuhachi as a
spritual discipline and during the Edo Period they had the exclusive
license to play the instrument. During the more progressive Meiji Period (1868~1912) various other schools started, some influenced by
western music.
Other flutes include the nokan used in noh performances and the side-blown takebue and shinobue often heard during festivals. Kodo often incorporate flute pieces
into their repertoire.
Tai Hei Shakuhachi Flute made by Monty H. Levenson, who runs the
Shakuhachi Flute Resource Page.
|
