PATRICK CHARLES P.

PERALTA
GRADE 6

THE TRADITIONAL
INSTRUMENTS OF
JAPANESE MUSIC
SHAMISEN
The shamisen (also called the
Xsangen), a three-string lute with
a fret-less fingerboard (about 38
inches long in Jiuta style), is one
of the main instruments used in
many Japanese musical
traditions. Its construction is
elegant and refined, consisting of
a long narrow wooden neck, a
resonating wooden box covered
both sides with animal skin, and
a set of woven silk strings
stretched over a water buffalo horn, tortoiseshell or wooden bridge.

KOTO
One of the more
recognizable instruments
of Japan, the koto consists
of a 6 foot long shallow
resonating box (made
from Paulownia wood)
with a set of thirteen
strings stretched over
movable ivory bridges.
This arrangement creates
a harp-like instrument
which is traditionally
played at floor level by a
kneeling musician. The
player has tsume (plectra)
attached to three fingers
and strums and plucks the strings. Higher pitches can be created by pressing down to
varying degrees on strings behind the bridges.
Introduced from China in about the eighth century AD, the koto was originally
part of the court orchestra called Gagaku. The oldest existing repertoire for the koto
outside of Gagaku dates back to the end of the 16th century. Later in the Edo period
(1603-1868) the koto joined the shamisen in small chamber ensembles. This was a
tremendously active period in the arts and many parallel genres of music evolved.
Music making was one of the allowed professions for blind people and was partially
subsidized by the government.

SHAKUHACHI

PATRICK CHARLES P. PERALTA

GRADE 6
The shakuhachi is Japan's vertical bamboo flute with five finger holes, four in front
and one at the back. It is an ancient instrument and yet, due to its versatility, it has a
uniquely contemporary appeal. Related to similar flutes found in China, India and the
Middle East, The shakuhachi
was first introduced into
Japan around the end of the
7th century AD and evolved
through a series of
modifiations until it reached
its present form during the
17th. century.

BIWA
The biwa (lute) arrived in
Japan from China and Korea
approximately 1300 years ago, with what is still Japans orchestra of the court,
Gagaku. There is also evidence that
other biwa instruments came from
the Indian lute tradition. In the 9th
century the Ms (blind monks')
biwa began to be used by blind
musicians as an accompaniment to
chanted religious texts and sutras.
At the beginning of the 13th
century, Heike biwa players began
telling of tales of the rise and fall of
the Taira clan in 12th C Japan.

THE TRADITIONAL INSTRUMENTS OF INDONESIAN

MUSIC

PATRICK CHARLES P. PERALTA

GRADE 6

PATRICK CHARLES P. PERALTA

GRADE 6