Shamisen: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Japanese plucked stringed instrument}} |
{{short description|Japanese plucked stringed instrument}} |
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{{more citations needed|date= |
{{more citations needed|date=June 2023}} |
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{{Italic title}} |
{{Italic title}} |
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[[File:Tokyo Geisha with Shamisen c1870s,.jpg|thumb|Tokyo [[geisha]] with {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, {{circa|1870s}}]] |
[[File:Tokyo Geisha with Shamisen c1870s,.jpg|thumb|Tokyo [[geisha]] with {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, {{circa|1870s}}]] |
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[[Image:Maple Leaves Koyo and Shamisen by Kitagawa Utamaro c1803.png|thumb|Kitagawa [[Utamaro]], "Flowers of Edo: Young Woman's Narrative Chanting to the {{transliteration|ja|Samisen}}", {{circa|1800}}]] |
[[Image:Maple Leaves Koyo and Shamisen by Kitagawa Utamaro c1803.png|thumb|Kitagawa [[Utamaro]], "Flowers of Edo: Young Woman's Narrative Chanting to the {{transliteration|ja|Samisen}}", {{circa|1800}}]] |
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[[Image:Man playing shamisen.jpg|thumb|A [[Japanese people|Japanese]] man playing a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} while another sings]] |
[[Image:Man playing shamisen.jpg|thumb|A [[Japanese people|Japanese]] man playing a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} while another sings]] |
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[[File:Shamisenwithvocals 2006.ogg|thumb|A {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} accompanying traditional vocals, with a solo |
[[File:Shamisenwithvocals 2006.ogg|thumb|A {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} accompanying traditional vocals, with a solo (audio)]] |
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The {{nihongo||{{linktext|三味線}}|'''shamisen'''}}, also known as |
The {{nihongo||{{linktext|三味線}}|'''shamisen'''}}, also known as {{nihongo||{{linktext|三絃}}|'''sangen'''}} or {{transliteration|ja|'''samisen'''}} |
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(all meaning "three strings"), is a three-stringed [[traditional Japanese musical instrument]] derived from the Chinese instrument {{transliteration|zh|[[sanxian]]}}. It is played with a [[plectrum]] called a [[bachi]]. |
(all meaning "three strings"), is a three-stringed [[traditional Japanese musical instrument]] derived from the Chinese instrument {{transliteration|zh|[[sanxian]]}}. It is played with a [[plectrum]] called a [[bachi]]. |
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===Variations in construction and playing method=== |
===Variations in construction and playing method=== |
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[[Image:Shamisen compare.JPG|thumb|left|The {{transliteration|ja|heike shamisen}} compared with a medium-sized, or {{transliteration|ja|chuzao shamisen}} |
[[Image:Shamisen compare.JPG|thumb|left|The {{transliteration|ja|heike shamisen}} compared with a medium-sized, or {{transliteration|ja|chuzao shamisen}}]] |
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The construction of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} varies in shape and size, depending on the genre in which it is used. The {{transliteration|ja|bachi}} used will also be different according to genre, if it is used at all. {{transliteration|ja|Shamisen}} are classified according to size and genre. There are three basic sizes: {{transliteration|ja|hosozao}}, {{transliteration|ja|chuzao}} and {{transliteration|ja|futozao}}. Examples of {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} genres include {{transliteration|ja|[[nagauta]]}}, {{transliteration|ja|jiuta}}, {{transliteration|ja|min'yo}}, {{transliteration|ja|kouta}}, {{transliteration|ja|hauta}}, {{transliteration|ja|shinnai}}, {{transliteration|ja|tokiwazu}}, {{transliteration|ja|kiyomoto}}, {{transliteration|ja|gidayu}} and {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru}}. |
The construction of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} varies in shape and size, depending on the genre in which it is used. The {{transliteration|ja|bachi}} used will also be different according to genre, if it is used at all. {{transliteration|ja|Shamisen}} are classified according to size and genre. There are three basic sizes: {{transliteration|ja|hosozao}}, {{transliteration|ja|chuzao}} and {{transliteration|ja|futozao}}. Examples of {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} genres include {{transliteration|ja|[[nagauta]]}}, {{transliteration|ja|jiuta}}, {{transliteration|ja|min'yo}}, {{transliteration|ja|kouta}}, {{transliteration|ja|hauta}}, {{transliteration|ja|shinnai}}, {{transliteration|ja|tokiwazu}}, {{transliteration|ja|kiyomoto}}, {{transliteration|ja|gidayu}} and {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru}}. |
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The {{transliteration|ja|bachi}} used for {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}} is the smallest, and is almost always tipped with tortoiseshell. |
The {{transliteration|ja|bachi}} used for {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}} is the smallest, and is almost always tipped with tortoiseshell. |
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====Other structural variations==== |
====Other structural variations==== |
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The {{nihongo||駒|koma}}, or bridge, can be fashioned out of aged bamboo, ivory, ox-bone ({{transliteration|ja|shari}}), rosewood, buffalo horn, [[Pterocarpus santalinus|{{transliteration|ja|kōki}} wood]], any combination of the above, or plastic for the student level. {{transliteration|ja|Koma}} come in many heights. The higher the {{transliteration|ja|koma}}, the louder the sound will be, and the harder it is to control a rapid {{transliteration|ja|sukui}}. Higher {{transliteration|ja|koma}} are not considered suitable for beginners. |
The {{nihongo||駒|koma}}, or bridge, can be fashioned out of aged bamboo, ivory, ox-bone ({{transliteration|ja|shari}}), rosewood, buffalo horn, [[Pterocarpus santalinus|{{transliteration|ja|kōki}} wood]], any combination of the above, or plastic for the student level. {{transliteration|ja|Koma}} come in many heights. The higher the {{transliteration|ja|koma}}, the louder the sound will be, and the harder it is to control a rapid {{transliteration|ja|sukui}}. Higher {{transliteration|ja|koma}} are not considered suitable for beginners. |
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The {{transliteration|ja|koma}} used for {{transliteration|ja|nagauta}} use a height between 3.2 and 3.6. {{transliteration|ja|Koma}} for {{transliteration|ja|nagauta}} are fashioned out of only three materials: ivory, bone, and plastic. Ivory is the most expensive and produces the most desirable sound and amplification, but due to its high price tag is normally only used in performances. Ox-bone or {{transliteration|ja|shari}} is the most popular {{transliteration|ja|koma}} material for practice and with students who are performing. Because of ivory's volume and vibration, it is normally used by a teacher or {{transliteration|ja|tate-jamisen}} (lead {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}), so that the other players can follow their tone and signals. Plastic {{transliteration|ja|koma}} are increasingly harder in the modern day, as the material is considered to produce an undesirable sound when compared to {{transliteration|ja|shari koma}}. {{transliteration|ja|Shari}} is not much more expensive than plastic, and most teachers openly express their displeasure with plastic {{transliteration|ja|koma}} and require {{transliteration|ja|shari}}. |
The {{transliteration|ja|koma}} used for {{transliteration|ja|nagauta}} use a height between 3.2 and 3.6. {{transliteration|ja|Koma}} for {{transliteration|ja|nagauta}} are fashioned out of only three materials: ivory, bone, and plastic. Ivory is the most expensive and produces the most desirable sound and amplification, but due to its high price tag is normally only used in performances. Ox-bone or {{transliteration|ja|shari}} is the most popular {{transliteration|ja|koma}} material for practice and with students who are performing. Because of ivory's volume and vibration, it is normally used by a teacher or {{transliteration|ja|tate-jamisen}} (lead {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}), so that the other players can follow their tone and signals. Plastic {{transliteration|ja|koma}} are increasingly harder in the modern day, as the material is considered to produce an undesirable sound when compared to {{transliteration|ja|shari koma}}. {{transliteration|ja|Shari}} is not much more expensive than plastic, and most teachers openly express their displeasure with plastic {{transliteration|ja|koma}} and require {{transliteration|ja|shari}}. |
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==Variations in playing== |
==Variations in playing== |
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[[Image:ShamisenBuskerPittStreetSydney.JPG|thumb|left|A [[busker]] playing a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} in [[Sydney]], |
[[Image:ShamisenBuskerPittStreetSydney.JPG|thumb|left|A [[busker]] playing a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} in [[Sydney]], Australia]] |
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[[Image:Minyo bachi.JPG|thumb|left|{{transliteration|ja|Bachi}}, or the plectrum used for playing the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}]] |
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In most genres, the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} strings are plucked with a {{transliteration|ja|bachi}}. The sound of a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is similar in some respects to that of the American [[banjo]], in that the drum-like {{transliteration|ja|dō}}, amplifies the sound of the strings. As in the [[clawhammer]] style of American banjo playing, the {{transliteration|ja|bachi}} is often used to strike both string and skin, creating a highly percussive sound. When playing {{nihongo3|literally "little song"|小唄|kouta}} on the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, and occasionally in other genres, the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is plucked with the fingers. Sometimes, the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is bowed with a violin bow, similar to the {{transliteration|ja|[[kokyū]]}}, a similar instrument. |
In most genres, the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} strings are plucked with a {{transliteration|ja|bachi}}. The sound of a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is similar in some respects to that of the American [[banjo]], in that the drum-like {{transliteration|ja|dō}}, amplifies the sound of the strings. As in the [[clawhammer]] style of American banjo playing, the {{transliteration|ja|bachi}} is often used to strike both string and skin, creating a highly percussive sound. When playing {{nihongo3|literally "little song"|小唄|kouta}} on the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, and occasionally in other genres, the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is plucked with the fingers. Sometimes, the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is bowed with a violin bow, similar to the {{transliteration|ja|[[kokyū]]}}, a similar instrument. |
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==Tuning== |
==Tuning== |
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The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is played and tuned according to genre, with the nomenclature of the nodes in an [[octave]] also |
[[Image:Minyo bachi.JPG|thumb|{{transliteration|ja|Bachi}}, or the plectrum used for playing the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}|190x190px]] |
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The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is played and tuned according to genre, with the nomenclature of the nodes in an [[octave]] also varying according to genre. A number of {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} styles exist across Japan, and tunings, tonality and notation vary to some degree. Three of the most commonly recognized tunings across all genres are {{nihongo||本調子|honchoushi}}, {{nihongo||二上がり|niagari}}, and {{nihongo||三下がり|sansagari}}. |
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==={{transliteration|ja|Honchoushi}}=== |
==={{transliteration|ja|Honchoushi}}=== |
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{{transliteration|ja|Honchoushi}} means "home tuning" or "base tuning |
{{transliteration|ja|Honchoushi}} means "home tuning" or "base tuning", and is called so because other tunings are considered to derive from it. For {{transliteration|ja|honchoushi}}, the first and third strings are tuned an octave apart, while the middle string is tuned to the equivalent of a fourth, in Western terms, from the 1st string. The most commonly used tuning is C-F-C. An example of a song that uses this tuning is {{transliteration|ja|Akita Nikata Bushi}}. |
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==={{transliteration|ja|Niagari}}=== |
==={{transliteration|ja|Niagari}}=== |
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{{transliteration|ja|Niagari}} means "raised two" or "raised second", referring to the fact that the pitch of the second string is raised (from {{transliteration|ja|honchoushi}}), increasing the interval of the first and second strings to a fifth (conversely decreasing the interval between the second and third strings to a fourth). The most commonly used tuning |
{{transliteration|ja|Niagari}} means "raised two" or "raised second", referring to the fact that the pitch of the second string is raised (from {{transliteration|ja|honchoushi}}), increasing the interval of the first and second strings to a fifth (conversely decreasing the interval between the second and third strings to a fourth). The most commonly used tuning is C-G-C. An example of a song that uses this tuning is {{transliteration|ja|Tsugaru Jongara Bushi}}. |
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==={{transliteration|ja|Sansagari}}=== |
==={{transliteration|ja|Sansagari}}=== |
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{{transliteration|ja|Sansagari}} means "lowered three" or "lowered third", referring to tuning the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} to {{transliteration|ja|honchoushi}} and lowering the 3rd string (the string with the highest pitch) down a whole step, so that the instrument is tuned in fourths, e.g. C-F-B♭. An example of a song in this tuning is Tsugaru Sansagari |
{{transliteration|ja|Sansagari}} means "lowered three" or "lowered third", referring to tuning the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} to {{transliteration|ja|honchoushi}} and lowering the 3rd string (the string with the highest pitch) down a whole step, so that the instrument is tuned in fourths, e.g. C-F-B♭. An example of a song in this tuning is {{transliteration|ja|Tsugaru Sansagari}}. |
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Instead of having a set tuning, such as on a guitar (i.e. E, A, D, G, B, E) or a violin (i.e. G, D, A, E), the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is tuned according to the register of the singer, or simply to the liking of the player. The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} player can tune the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} to whatever register desired, so long as the above conventions are followed. |
Instead of having a set tuning, such as on a guitar (i.e. E, A, D, G, B, E) or a violin (i.e. G, D, A, E), the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is tuned according to the register of the singer, or simply to the liking of the player. The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} player can tune the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} to whatever register desired, so long as the above conventions are followed. |
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[[Image:Shami tab horizontal.jpg|thumb|right|Horizontal {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} tablature, read from left to right. Similar to guitar tablature, three horizontal lines represent the strings of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}. Nodes are represented by Arabic numerals, and note subdivisions are indicated by lines under them.]] |
[[Image:Shami tab horizontal.jpg|thumb|right|Horizontal {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} tablature, read from left to right. Similar to guitar tablature, three horizontal lines represent the strings of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}. Nodes are represented by Arabic numerals, and note subdivisions are indicated by lines under them.]] |
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Music for the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} can be written in Western music notation, but is more often written in [[tablature]] notation. While tunings might be similar across genres, the way in which the nodes on the neck of the instrument (called {{nihongo||壷|tsubo}} in Japanese) are named is not. As a consequence, tablature for each genre is written differently. For example, in the {{transliteration|ja|min'yo shamisen}} style, nodes on the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} are labeled from 0, the open string called "0". However, in the {{transliteration|ja|jiuta shamisen}} style, nodes are subdivided and named by octave, with "1" being the open string and first note in an octave, starting over at the next octave. The nodes are also labeled differently for {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru}}-style {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}. To add to the confusion, sometimes nodes can be "sharped |
Music for the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} can be written in Western music notation, but is more often written in [[tablature]] notation. While tunings might be similar across genres, the way in which the nodes on the neck of the instrument (called {{nihongo||壷|tsubo}} in Japanese) are named is not. As a consequence, tablature for each genre is written differently. For example, in the {{transliteration|ja|min'yo shamisen}} style, nodes on the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} are labeled from 0, the open string called "0". However, in the {{transliteration|ja|jiuta shamisen}} style, nodes are subdivided and named by octave, with "1" being the open string and first note in an octave, starting over at the next octave. The nodes are also labeled differently for {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru}}-style {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}. To add to the confusion, sometimes nodes can be "sharped", and since the names of nodes and their positions are different for each genre, these will also vary. Consequently, students of one genre of {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} will find it difficult to read tablature from other genres of {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, unless they are specially trained to read these kinds of tablatures. |
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[[Tablature]] can be written in traditional Japanese vertical right-to-left notation, or it can be written in |
[[Tablature]] can be written in traditional Japanese vertical right-to-left notation, or it can be written in Western style horizontal left-to-right notation, which resembles modern guitar tablature. In traditional vertical notation, Chinese characters and older symbols for dynamics are used, however notation from Western style music notation, such as Italian names for dynamics, [[time signature]] and the [[fermata]] have been imported. What tuning a work calls for is usually indicated on the tablature. |
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==History and genres== |
==History and genres== |
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The Japanese {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} originated from the Chinese {{transliteration|zh|[[sanxian]]}} ({{zh|c=三弦}}).<ref name="leiter">{{cite book|last=Leiter|first=Samuel L.|title=Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre: A-N|year=2007|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33530-3|page=445|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JttNAAAAYAAJ}}</ref><ref name="koda">{{cite book|title=Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan, Volume 7|year=1983|isbn=978-0-87011-627-8|page=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ean3cAAACAAJ&q=Kodansha+encyclopedia+of+Japan}}</ref><ref name="malm">{{cite book|last=Malm|first=William P.|title=Traditional Japanese music and musical instruments, Volume 1|year=2000|publisher=Kodansha International|isbn=978-4-7700-2395-7|page=213|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yn3VQbqywCsC}}</ref><ref name="pick">{{cite book|last=Picken|first=Laurence E. R.|title=Music from the Tang Court: Some Ancient Connections Explored, Volume 7|year=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-54336-1|pages=33–34|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G6_voeVrDkwC}}</ref> The {{transliteration|zh|sanxian}} was introduced through the [[Ryūkyū Kingdom]] ([[Okinawa]]) in the 16th century, where it developed into the Okinawan {{nihongo||[[:ja:三線|三線]]|[[sanshin]]}}, from which the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} ultimately derives.<ref name="leiter"/><ref name="koda"/><ref name="malm"/><ref name="pick"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Lande|first=Liv|title=Innovating musical tradition in Japan: Negotiating transmission, identity, and creativity in the Sawai Koto School|year=2007|page=73|isbn=978-0-549-50670-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TukqhSzefPEC}}</ref> It is believed that the ancestor of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} was introduced in the 16th century through the port city of [[Sakai]], near [[Osaka]].<ref name="malm"/> |
The Japanese {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} originated from the Chinese {{transliteration|zh|[[sanxian]]}} ({{zh|c=三弦}}).<ref name="leiter">{{cite book|last=Leiter|first=Samuel L.|title=Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre: A-N|year=2007|publisher=Greenwood Press|isbn=978-0-313-33530-3|page=445|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=JttNAAAAYAAJ}}</ref><ref name="koda">{{cite book|title=Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan, Volume 7|year=1983|isbn=978-0-87011-627-8|page=77|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ean3cAAACAAJ&q=Kodansha+encyclopedia+of+Japan}}</ref><ref name="malm">{{cite book|last=Malm|first=William P.|title=Traditional Japanese music and musical instruments, Volume 1|year=2000|publisher=Kodansha International|isbn=978-4-7700-2395-7|page=213|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Yn3VQbqywCsC}}</ref><ref name="pick">{{cite book|last=Picken|first=Laurence E. R.|title=Music from the Tang Court: Some Ancient Connections Explored, Volume 7|year=2006|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location=Cambridge|isbn=978-0-521-54336-1|pages=33–34|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G6_voeVrDkwC}}</ref> The {{transliteration|zh|sanxian}} was introduced through the [[Ryūkyū Kingdom]] ([[Okinawa Prefecture|Okinawa]]) in the 16th century, where it developed into the Okinawan {{nihongo||[[:ja:三線|三線]]|[[sanshin]]}}, from which the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} ultimately derives.<ref name="leiter"/><ref name="koda"/><ref name="malm"/><ref name="pick"/><ref>{{cite book|last=Lande|first=Liv|title=Innovating musical tradition in Japan: Negotiating transmission, identity, and creativity in the Sawai Koto School|year=2007|page=73|isbn=978-0-549-50670-6|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=TukqhSzefPEC}}</ref> It is believed that the ancestor of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} was introduced in the 16th century through the port city of [[Sakai]], near [[Osaka]].<ref name="malm"/> |
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The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} can be played solo or with other {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, in ensembles with other Japanese instruments, with singing such as {{transliteration|ja|nagauta}}, or as an accompaniment to drama, notably [[kabuki]] and {{transliteration|ja|[[bunraku]]}}. Both men and women traditionally played the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}. |
The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} can be played solo or with other {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, in ensembles with other Japanese instruments, with singing such as {{transliteration|ja|nagauta}}, or as an accompaniment to drama, notably [[kabuki]] and {{transliteration|ja|[[bunraku]]}}. Both men and women traditionally played the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}. |
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The most famous and perhaps most demanding of the narrative styles is {{transliteration|ja|gidayū}}, named after Takemoto Gidayū (1651–1714), who was heavily involved in the {{transliteration|ja|bunraku}} puppet-theater tradition in [[Osaka]]. The {{transliteration|ja|gidayū shamisen}} and its plectrum are the largest of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} family, and the singer-narrator is required to speak the roles of the play, as well as to sing all the commentaries on the action. The singer-narrator role is often so vocally taxing that the performers are changed halfway through a scene. There is little notated in the books ({{transliteration|ja|maruhon}}) of the tradition except the words and the names of certain appropriate generic {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} responses. The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} player must know the entire work perfectly in order to respond effectively to the interpretations of the text by the singer-narrator. From the 19th century, female performers known as {{transliteration|ja|onna-jōruri}} or {{transliteration|ja|onna gidayū}} also carried on this concert tradition. |
The most famous and perhaps most demanding of the narrative styles is {{transliteration|ja|gidayū}}, named after [[Takemoto Gidayū]] (1651–1714), who was heavily involved in the {{transliteration|ja|bunraku}} puppet-theater tradition in [[Osaka]]. The {{transliteration|ja|gidayū shamisen}} and its plectrum are the largest of the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} family, and the singer-narrator is required to speak the roles of the play, as well as to sing all the commentaries on the action. The singer-narrator role is often so vocally taxing that the performers are changed halfway through a scene. There is little notated in the books ({{transliteration|ja|maruhon}}) of the tradition except the words and the names of certain appropriate generic {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} responses. The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} player must know the entire work perfectly in order to respond effectively to the interpretations of the text by the singer-narrator. From the 19th century, female performers known as {{transliteration|ja|onna-jōruri}} or {{transliteration|ja|onna gidayū}} also carried on this concert tradition. |
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In the early part of the 20th century, blind musicians, including [[Shirakawa Gunpachirō]] (1909–1962), [[Takahashi Chikuzan]] (1910–1998), and sighted players such as [[Kida Rinshōei]] (1911–1979), evolved a new style of playing, based on traditional folk songs ({{transliteration|ja|min'yō}}) but involving much [[improvisation]] and flashy fingerwork. This style – now known as {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}}, after the home region of this style in the north of [[Honshū]] – continues to be relatively popular in Japan. The virtuosic {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}} style is sometimes compared to [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]] [[banjo]]. |
In the early part of the 20th century, blind musicians, including [[Shirakawa Gunpachirō]] (1909–1962), [[Takahashi Chikuzan]] (1910–1998), and sighted players such as [[Kida Rinshōei]] (1911–1979), evolved a new style of playing, based on traditional folk songs ({{transliteration|ja|min'yō}}) but involving much [[improvisation]] and flashy fingerwork. This style – now known as {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}}, after the home region of this style in the north of [[Honshū]] – continues to be relatively popular in Japan. The virtuosic {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}} style is sometimes compared to [[bluegrass music|bluegrass]] [[banjo]]. |
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{{nihongo3|literally "regional song"|地唄|Jiuta}} is a more classical style of {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} music. |
{{nihongo3|literally "regional song"|地唄|Jiuta}} is a more classical style of {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} music. |
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==={{transliteration|ja|Shamisen}} in non-traditional genres=== |
=== {{transliteration|ja|Shamisen}} in non-traditional genres === |
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One contemporary {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} player, [[Takeharu Kunimoto]] (1960–2015), played bluegrass music on the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, having spent a year studying bluegrass at [[East Tennessee State University]] and performing with a bluegrass band based there. Another player using the {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}} in non-traditional genres is [[Michihiro Sato]], who plays [[free improvisation]] on the instrument. |
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| ⚫ | * [[Takeshi Terauchi]] & Bunnys utilized {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} played by [[Michiya Mihashi]] in combo with their instrumental rock group on their single {{transliteration|ja|"Tsugaru Jongara Bushi"}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzlCAAwZv7A|title=YouTube|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> with "Dark Eyes".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa9h4qI_AMI|title=YouTube|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | * Japanese rock musician [[Miyavi]] has also played the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} on various occasions, incorporating its use in albums and during [[concert]]s (e.g. during the debut live of [[Supergroup (music)|superband]] [[Skin (Japanese band)|S.K.I.N]] concert at the 2007 [[Anime Expo]] convention at [[Long Beach, California]] on June 29, 2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jmusicamerica.com/us/article.php?id=2713|title=S.K.I.N. debut concert live report at JAME|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613013608/http://www.jmusicamerica.com/us/article.php?id=2713|archive-date=2008-06-13}}</ref> |
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Japanese American jazz pianist [[Glenn Horiuchi]] played {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} in his performances and recordings. |
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| ⚫ | * American {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}} player and guitarist [[Kevin Kmetz]] leads a rock band called God of Shamisen, which is based in [[Santa Cruz, California]], and also plays the instrument with the band [[Estradasphere]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alarmpress.com/3939/music-interview/qa-god-of-shamisen/ |title=God of Shamisen interview | ALARM Magazine |access-date=2010-02-10 |archive-date=2008-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120203727/http://www.alarmpress.com/3939/music-interview/qa-god-of-shamisen/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | * Japanese traditional and jazz musician [[Hiromitsu Agatsuma]] incorporates a diverse mix of genres into his music. He arranged several [[jazz standards]] and other famous western songs for the shamisen on his album ''[[Agatsuma Plays Standards]]'' in 2008. His previous recordings, such as ''Beyond'' from 2004, displayed traditional Japanese styles mixed with [[funk]], [[techno]] and rock.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://agatsuma.tv/eng/|title=上妻宏光 三味線プレイヤー Hiromitsu Agatsuma Official Website|website=Agatsuma.tv|access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref><ref name="straits"> |
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A duo popular in Japan known as the [[Yoshida Brothers]] developed an energetic style of playing the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, heavily influenced by fast aggressive soloing emphasizing speed and twang, usually associated with rock music on the electric guitar. |
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Metal guitarist [[Marty Friedman (musician)|Marty Friedman]] has often used a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} in his recordings to give a more exotic sound to his music. |
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| ⚫ | [[Takeshi Terauchi]] & Bunnys utilized {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} played by [[Michiya Mihashi]] in combo with their instrumental rock group on their single {{transliteration|ja|"Tsugaru Jongara Bushi"}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzlCAAwZv7A|title=YouTube|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> with "Dark Eyes".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pa9h4qI_AMI|title=YouTube|website=[[YouTube]]|access-date=28 February 2015}}</ref> |
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Japanese extreme metal band [[Zenithrash]] played {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} and {{transliteration|ja|[[shakuhachi]]}} in their latest album{{which|date=October 2021}} to achieve the band's ideal of Japanized extreme metal.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://myspace.com/zenithrash|title=Zenithrash -THE SAMURAI METAL- | Listen and Stream Free Music, Albums, New Releases, Photos, Videos|website=Myspace.com|access-date=20 April 2021}}</ref> |
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Japanese rock musician [[Gackt]] opened his "Sixth Day Seventh Night" concerts in 2004 seated on stage with a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}, joined by two musicians from his band, GacktJOB, also playing {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}}.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}} |
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| ⚫ | Japanese rock musician [[Miyavi]] has also played the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} on various occasions, incorporating its use in albums and during [[concert]]s (e.g. during the debut live of [[Supergroup (music)|superband]] [[Skin (Japanese band)|S.K.I.N]] concert at the 2007 [[Anime Expo]] convention at [[Long Beach, California]] on June 29, 2007).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jmusicamerica.com/us/article.php?id=2713|title=S.K.I.N. debut concert live report at JAME|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613013608/http://www.jmusicamerica.com/us/article.php?id=2713|archive-date=2008-06-13}}</ref> |
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Japanese folk rock/metal band [[Wagakki Band]] takes several different traditional Japanese instruments and combines them with Western rock and [[Vocaloid]] songs. One of their members, Beni Ninagawa, plays a {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-shamisen}} on albums and during concerts. |
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Canadian death metal band Quo Vadis used a {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} in the song Ego Intuo Et Servo Te (the 9th and final song on their 2004 album Defiant Imagination), with the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} being played by Bart Frydrychowicz. |
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| ⚫ | American {{transliteration|ja|tsugaru-jamisen}} player and guitarist [[Kevin Kmetz]] leads a rock band called God of Shamisen, which is based in [[Santa Cruz, California]], and also plays the instrument with the band [[Estradasphere]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.alarmpress.com/3939/music-interview/qa-god-of-shamisen/ |title=God of Shamisen interview | ALARM Magazine |access-date=2010-02-10 |archive-date=2008-11-20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081120203727/http://www.alarmpress.com/3939/music-interview/qa-god-of-shamisen/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | Japanese traditional and jazz musician [[Hiromitsu Agatsuma]] incorporates a diverse mix of genres into his music. He arranged several [[jazz standards]] and other famous western songs for the shamisen on his album ''[[Agatsuma Plays Standards]]'' in 2008. His previous recordings, such as ''Beyond'' from 2004, displayed traditional Japanese styles mixed with [[funk]], [[techno]] and rock. |
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{{cite news |
{{cite news |
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| access-date =7 February 2017}}</ref> |
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| ⚫ | * [[Noriko Tadano]] is a {{transliteration|ja|[[Tsugaru-jamisen|tsugaru shamisen]]}} player born and raised in Japan, who now resides in Australia. She has collaborated with a wide variety of musicians from genres such as blues, jazz, folk, experimental and electronic music. Tadano has performed in collaborations at a number of world festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-25 |title=Kāpiti Coast's one-day festival Coastella announces its line-up |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/98230990/kptiti-coasts-oneday-festival-coastella-announces-its-lineup |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-01 |title=Powell Street Festival's George and Noriko: how the Japanese Blues Cowboy met the Tsugaru Shamisen Player |url=https://www.straight.com/arts/943336/powell-street-festivals-george-and-noriko-how-japanese-blues-cowboy-met-tsugaru-shamisen |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Womadelaide |url=https://archive.womadelaide.com.au/2010/artists/56-kamikawa-tadano.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=archive.womadelaide.com.au}}</ref> Tadano performed in the [[blues]] duo 'George & Noriko' on season 6 of ''[[Australia's Got Talent season 6|Australia's Got Talent]]'', making it to the finals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-01 |title=Powell Street Festival's George and Noriko: how the Japanese Blues Cowboy met the Tsugaru Shamisen Player |url=https://www.straight.com/arts/943336/powell-street-festivals-george-and-noriko-how-japanese-blues-cowboy-met-tsugaru-shamisen |access-date=2022-04-01 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en}}</ref> |
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* [[Wagakki Band]] is a Japanese folk-rock fusion band that features various traditional Japanese instruments including the shamisen, played by [[Beni Ninagawa]].<ref>{{Cite web | title = Guest - Wagakki Band | url = https://www.japan-expo-paris.com/en/invites/wagakkiband_419.htm | website = japan-expo-paris.com | date = 27 April 2014 | access-date = 2024-02-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ponTbDDMYjw | title = Wagakki Band - 焔 (Homura) + 暁ノ糸 (Akatsuki no Ito) / 1st JAPAN Tour 2015 Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo | access-date = 2024-02-06 | website = youtube.com| date = 21 January 2020 }}</ref> |
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The {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is also used in the music of pop speed metal band [[Babymetal]]; it can be seen in their music videos and is played live onstage. |
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* Japanese [[Metal (genre)|metal]] group [[Ryujin (band)|Ryujin]] has also used the shamisen some of their songs |
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The French Metal band [[GaidjinN]] use the {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} in their compositions. One of their song [[Illusion Of Love]] is based on the traditional {{transliteration|ja|jiuta}} song {{transliteration|ja|Rokudan No Shirabe}}. The main guitarist [[Guillaume Fiat]] is also a {{transliteration|ja|jiuta shamisen}} player. |
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A magical {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} is featured in the 2016 movie ''[[Kubo and the Two Strings]]''. In the movie, the main character (Kubo) uses its power to defeat his enemies and complete his quest. The instrument is featured in [[Regina Spektor]]'s cover of "[[While My Guitar Gently Weeps]]," which plays over the end credits and is included on the film's soundtrack. |
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Shinobu Kawashima plays {{transliteration|ja|shamisen}} on a cover version of "What is hip" by Tokyo Groove Jyoshi. |
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| ⚫ | [[Noriko Tadano]] is a {{transliteration|ja|[[Tsugaru-jamisen|tsugaru shamisen]]}} player born and raised in Japan, who now resides in Australia. She has collaborated with a wide variety of musicians from genres such as blues, jazz, folk, experimental and electronic music. Tadano has performed in collaborations at a number of world festivals.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-10-25 |title=Kāpiti Coast's one-day festival Coastella announces its line-up |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/music/98230990/kptiti-coasts-oneday-festival-coastella-announces-its-lineup |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=Stuff |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-08-01 |title=Powell Street Festival's George and Noriko: how the Japanese Blues Cowboy met the Tsugaru Shamisen Player |url=https://www.straight.com/arts/943336/powell-street-festivals-george-and-noriko-how-japanese-blues-cowboy-met-tsugaru-shamisen |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=The Georgia Straight |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Womadelaide |url=https://archive.womadelaide.com.au/2010/artists/56-kamikawa-tadano.html |access-date=2022-04-04 |website=archive.womadelaide.com.au}}</ref> Tadano performed in the [[blues]] duo 'George & Noriko' on season 6 of ''[[Australia's Got Talent |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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| ⚫ | |||
*{{transliteration|ja|[[Biwa]]}} |
*{{transliteration|ja|[[Biwa]]}} |
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*{{transliteration|ja|[[Gagaku]]}} |
*{{transliteration|ja|[[Gagaku]]}} |
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*{{transliteration|ja|[[Kokyū]]}} |
*{{transliteration|ja|[[Kokyū]]}} |
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*{{transliteration|ja|[[Sankyoku]]}} |
*{{transliteration|ja|[[Sankyoku]]}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
*{{transliteration|zh|[[Sanxian]]}} |
*{{transliteration|zh|[[Sanxian]]}} |
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| ⚫ | |||
*{{transliteration|ja|[[Tsugaru-jamisen]]}} |
*{{transliteration|ja|[[Tsugaru-jamisen]]}} |
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[[Category:Japanese musical instruments]] |
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[[Category:Drumhead lutes]] |
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[[Category:Spike lutes]] |
[[Category:Spike lutes]] |
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[[Category:Continuous pitch instruments]] |
[[Category:Continuous pitch instruments]] |
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[[Category:String instruments]] |
[[Category:String instruments]] |
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[[Category:Japanese words and phrases]] |
[[Category:Japanese words and phrases]] |
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[[Category:Lute family instruments]] |
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Latest revision as of 04:30, 1 October 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (June 2023) |
The shamisen (三味線), also known as sangen (三絃) or samisen (all meaning "three strings"), is a three-stringed traditional Japanese musical instrument derived from the Chinese instrument sanxian. It is played with a plectrum called a bachi.
The Japanese pronunciation is usually shamisen but sometimes jamisen when used as a suffix, according to regular sound change (e.g. tsugaru-jamisen). In Western Japanese dialects and several Edo period sources, it is both written and pronounced as samisen.
The construction of the shamisen varies in shape, depending on the genre in which it is used. The instrument used to accompany kabuki has a thin neck, facilitating the agile and virtuosic requirements of that genre. The one used to accompany puppet plays and folk songs has a longer and thicker neck instead, to match the more robust music of those genres.
Construction
[edit]
- head (tenjin)
- ebio
- strings (ito)
- protective piece of leather (bachigawa, azumasawari)
- membrane (kawa)
- bridge (koma)
- silk knot holding strings (neo)
- hatomune
- spike (nakagosaki)
- peg sleeves (zagane)
- peg (itomaki)
- peg (itomaki)
- peg (itomaki)
- top bridge (kamikoma)
- sawari valley (sawari-no tani)
- azumasawari screw
- sawari mountain (sawari-no yama)
- chibukuro
The shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument.[1] Its construction follows a model similar to that of a guitar or a banjo, with a neck and strings stretched across a resonating body. The neck of the shamisen is fretless and slimmer than that of a guitar or banjo. The body, called the dō (胴), resembles a drum, having a hollow body that is covered front and back with skin, in the manner of a banjo. The skin used depends on the genre of music and the skill of the player. Traditionally, skins were made using dog or cat skin, with cat skin favored for finer instruments;[2]: 257–258 though use of animal skins was common throughout the 20th century, use of these skins gradually fell out of favor, starting around the mid 2000s, due to social stigma and the decline of workers skilled in preparing these particular skins.[3] Contemporary shamisen skins are often prepared with synthetic materials, such as plastic.[4]
The sao (棹), or neck of the shamisen, is usually divided into three or four pieces that fit and lock together, with most shamisen made to be easily disassembled. The neck of the shamisen is a singular rod that crosses the drum-like body of the instrument, partially protruding at the other side of the body and acting as an anchor for the strings. The pegs used to wind the strings are long, thin and hexagonal in shape; though they were traditionally fashioned out of ivory, due to scarcity and trading regulations regarding and constricting the sale of ivory, many are now constructed from other materials, such as wood and plastic.
The three strings of the shamisen are made of either silk (traditionally) or nylon. They are stretched between the pegs at the head of the instrument, and a cloth tailpiece anchored at the end of the rod which protrudes on the other side of the body. The strings are stretched across the body, raised from it by means of a bridge, or koma (駒), which rests directly on the taut skin. The lowest string is purposefully laid lower at the nut of the instrument in order to create a buzz, a characteristic timbre known as sawari (somewhat reminiscent of the "buzzing" of a sitar, which is called Jivari). The upper side of the dō (when on the player's lap) is almost always protected by a cover known as a dō kake, and players often wear a little band of cloth on their left hand to facilitate sliding up and down the neck, known as a yubikake. The head of the instrument known as a tenjin may also be protected by a cover. The material of the strings will depend on the skill of the player. Traditionally, silk strings are used. However, silk breaks easily over a short time, so this is reserved for professional performances. Students often use nylon or 'tetron' strings, which last longer than silk, and are also less expensive.
Variations in construction and playing method
[edit]
The construction of the shamisen varies in shape and size, depending on the genre in which it is used. The bachi used will also be different according to genre, if it is used at all. Shamisen are classified according to size and genre. There are three basic sizes: hosozao, chuzao and futozao. Examples of shamisen genres include nagauta, jiuta, min'yo, kouta, hauta, shinnai, tokiwazu, kiyomoto, gidayu and tsugaru.
Shamisen used for traditional genres of Japanese music, such as jiuta, kouta, and nagauta, adhere to very strict standards. Purists of these genres demand that the shamisen be made of the correct wood, the correct skin, and are played with the correct bachi, with little room for variation. The tsugaru-jamisen, on the other hand, has lent itself to modern use, and is used in modern genres such as jazz and rock. As a more open instrument, variations of it exist for show. The tuning pegs, which are usually fashioned out of ivory, and bachi which are fashioned from a combination of ivory and tortoise-shell for example, are sometimes made of acrylic material to give the shamisen a more modern, flashy look. Recently, avant-garde inventors have developed a tsugaru-jamisen with electric pickups to be used with amplifiers, like the electric guitar.[5]
Hosozao
[edit]The hosozao (細棹, literally "thin neck"), as its Japanese name implies, is the smallest kind of shamisen. The body is small and particularly square-shaped, with a particularly thin neck, which tapers away from the strings just as it approaches the body. Generally, the hosozao is used in nagauta, the shorter and thinner neck facilitating the agile and virtuosic requirements of kabuki. Hosozao shamisen built especially for nagauta ensembles are often simply known as nagauta shamisen. The hosozao is also often used in kouta, where it is plucked with the fingernails.
Chuzao
[edit]The chuzao (中棹, literally "middle neck") is a size up from the hosozao. As its name implies, the neck is slightly thicker. As the neck approaches the body of the instrument, the distance between the strings and the fingerboard is maintained, unlike the hosozao, where it tapers off. The fingerboard ends abruptly, and the rest of the neck curves sharply into the body of the instrument. The pronounced curve that occurs just before the neck meets the body is called hatomune (鳩胸, literally "pigeon's breast"). The result is an extended fingerboard that gives the chuzao a higher register than the hosozao. The chuzao is favored for jiuta-style playing, with a broader, more mellow timbre. It is also an "all-round" instrument that can be used across many genres.
Futozao
[edit]The futozao (太棹, literally "fat neck") shamisen is used in the robust music of gidayubushi (the music of bunraku), jōruri min'yo, and tsugaru-jamisen. In these genres, a thicker neck facilitates the greater force used in playing the music of these styles. The futozao of tsugaru-jamisen is quite a recent innovation, and is purposefully constructed in a much larger size than traditional style shamisen, and its neck is much longer and thicker than the traditional nagauta or jiuta shamisen.
Heike shamisen
[edit]The heike shamisen (平家) is a shamisen particularly fashioned for the performance of the song Heike Ondo, a folk tune originating from Shimonoseki, Yamaguchi Prefecture. The neck of the heike shamisen is about half the length of most shamisen, giving the instrument the high range needed to play Heike Ondo. The use of more typical shamisen is possible, but they must be properly adjusted with a capo device to raise their pitch to make them suitable for use. Today the strings are made out of steel to make a better sound and the drum heads are made out of plastic to avoid breakage in a performance.
Variations in bachi
[edit]The bachi (撥), the plectrum used to play the shamisen, also differ in size, shape, and material from genre to genre.
The bachi used for nagauta shamisen can be made out of three possible materials: wood, plastic, or ivory. While many nagauta teachers generally do not approve of the use of plastic, if ivory is unattainable and wood is still out of price range, plastic is considered acceptable for use.
Jiuta bachi are made entirely out of plastic or ivory, plastic and tortoiseshell (bekko), or ivory and tortoiseshell. Jiuta bachi are the easiest to identify as they are the longest, the widest, and also have a deep indentation where the tortoiseshell meets the handle. There are sometimes also jiuta bachi that are made with a buffalo horn handle. The material, however, makes no difference in the sound.
The gidayu shamisen style uses the heaviest and thickest bachi, though the nagauta bachi is wider.
The bachi used for tsugaru-jamisen is the smallest, and is almost always tipped with tortoiseshell.
Other structural variations
[edit]The koma (駒), or bridge, can be fashioned out of aged bamboo, ivory, ox-bone (shari), rosewood, buffalo horn, kōki wood, any combination of the above, or plastic for the student level. Koma come in many heights. The higher the koma, the louder the sound will be, and the harder it is to control a rapid sukui. Higher koma are not considered suitable for beginners.
The koma used for nagauta use a height between 3.2 and 3.6. Koma for nagauta are fashioned out of only three materials: ivory, bone, and plastic. Ivory is the most expensive and produces the most desirable sound and amplification, but due to its high price tag is normally only used in performances. Ox-bone or shari is the most popular koma material for practice and with students who are performing. Because of ivory's volume and vibration, it is normally used by a teacher or tate-jamisen (lead shamisen), so that the other players can follow their tone and signals. Plastic koma are increasingly harder in the modern day, as the material is considered to produce an undesirable sound when compared to shari koma. Shari is not much more expensive than plastic, and most teachers openly express their displeasure with plastic koma and require shari.
The koma used for jiuta vary between 2.6 and 2.8, though other heights can be specially ordered. Koma for jiuta are made out of a few select materials, such as yellow or black water buffalo horn (suigyu), which are the standard for jiuta. Blackwater buffalo horn does not have a significant sound difference when cut in the jiuta koma style, and is far less popular. Yellow suigyu is the most widely used for jiuta-style shamisen, both in practice and performance. Plastic is available because of the higher price tag of suigyu. Many people believe that for jiuta, there is not a great sound difference between the two, but there is a high change in vibration. Plastic makes a deader sound, which is not the most favorable for jiuta. Shari is used from time to time in practice, but never for jiuta performances.
Koma used for both tsugaru and min'yo shamisen are typically 2.6 in height, though sometimes 2.7 or 2.8. Tsugaru koma are very easily identifiable due to their unique structure and use of two different materials. Tsugaru koma are very thin in width, and are not very high. The base is usually made of either bamboo, smoked bamboo, or a wood of some kind, while the top half in which the strings pass through can be made of ivory, bone, or tortoiseshell. Because of the thickness of both the strings and neck of the futozao shamisen, the tsugaru bridge in general tends to be longer than the others. Both the gidayu koma (the highest koma made, fashioned out of black buffalo horn) and the kiyomoto koma (which resembles the nagauta koma exactly, save for its width) are sometimes confused with the tsugaru koma.
Variations in playing
[edit]
In most genres, the shamisen strings are plucked with a bachi. The sound of a shamisen is similar in some respects to that of the American banjo, in that the drum-like dō, amplifies the sound of the strings. As in the clawhammer style of American banjo playing, the bachi is often used to strike both string and skin, creating a highly percussive sound. When playing kouta (小唄, literally "little song") on the shamisen, and occasionally in other genres, the shamisen is plucked with the fingers. Sometimes, the shamisen is bowed with a violin bow, similar to the kokyū, a similar instrument.
Tuning
[edit]
The shamisen is played and tuned according to genre, with the nomenclature of the nodes in an octave also varying according to genre. A number of shamisen styles exist across Japan, and tunings, tonality and notation vary to some degree. Three of the most commonly recognized tunings across all genres are honchoushi (本調子), niagari (二上がり), and sansagari (三下がり).
Honchoushi
[edit]Honchoushi means "home tuning" or "base tuning", and is called so because other tunings are considered to derive from it. For honchoushi, the first and third strings are tuned an octave apart, while the middle string is tuned to the equivalent of a fourth, in Western terms, from the 1st string. The most commonly used tuning is C-F-C. An example of a song that uses this tuning is Akita Nikata Bushi.
Niagari
[edit]Niagari means "raised two" or "raised second", referring to the fact that the pitch of the second string is raised (from honchoushi), increasing the interval of the first and second strings to a fifth (conversely decreasing the interval between the second and third strings to a fourth). The most commonly used tuning is C-G-C. An example of a song that uses this tuning is Tsugaru Jongara Bushi.
Sansagari
[edit]Sansagari means "lowered three" or "lowered third", referring to tuning the shamisen to honchoushi and lowering the 3rd string (the string with the highest pitch) down a whole step, so that the instrument is tuned in fourths, e.g. C-F-B♭. An example of a song in this tuning is Tsugaru Sansagari.
Instead of having a set tuning, such as on a guitar (i.e. E, A, D, G, B, E) or a violin (i.e. G, D, A, E), the shamisen is tuned according to the register of the singer, or simply to the liking of the player. The shamisen player can tune the shamisen to whatever register desired, so long as the above conventions are followed.
Musical notation
[edit]
Music for the shamisen can be written in Western music notation, but is more often written in tablature notation. While tunings might be similar across genres, the way in which the nodes on the neck of the instrument (called tsubo (壷) in Japanese) are named is not. As a consequence, tablature for each genre is written differently. For example, in the min'yo shamisen style, nodes on the shamisen are labeled from 0, the open string called "0". However, in the jiuta shamisen style, nodes are subdivided and named by octave, with "1" being the open string and first note in an octave, starting over at the next octave. The nodes are also labeled differently for tsugaru-style shamisen. To add to the confusion, sometimes nodes can be "sharped", and since the names of nodes and their positions are different for each genre, these will also vary. Consequently, students of one genre of shamisen will find it difficult to read tablature from other genres of shamisen, unless they are specially trained to read these kinds of tablatures.
Tablature can be written in traditional Japanese vertical right-to-left notation, or it can be written in Western style horizontal left-to-right notation, which resembles modern guitar tablature. In traditional vertical notation, Chinese characters and older symbols for dynamics are used, however notation from Western style music notation, such as Italian names for dynamics, time signature and the fermata have been imported. What tuning a work calls for is usually indicated on the tablature.
History and genres
[edit]The Japanese shamisen originated from the Chinese sanxian (Chinese: 三弦).[6][7][8][9] The sanxian was introduced through the Ryūkyū Kingdom (Okinawa) in the 16th century, where it developed into the Okinawan sanshin (三線), from which the shamisen ultimately derives.[6][7][8][9][10] It is believed that the ancestor of the shamisen was introduced in the 16th century through the port city of Sakai, near Osaka.[8]
The shamisen can be played solo or with other shamisen, in ensembles with other Japanese instruments, with singing such as nagauta, or as an accompaniment to drama, notably kabuki and bunraku. Both men and women traditionally played the shamisen.
The most famous and perhaps most demanding of the narrative styles is gidayū, named after Takemoto Gidayū (1651–1714), who was heavily involved in the bunraku puppet-theater tradition in Osaka. The gidayū shamisen and its plectrum are the largest of the shamisen family, and the singer-narrator is required to speak the roles of the play, as well as to sing all the commentaries on the action. The singer-narrator role is often so vocally taxing that the performers are changed halfway through a scene. There is little notated in the books (maruhon) of the tradition except the words and the names of certain appropriate generic shamisen responses. The shamisen player must know the entire work perfectly in order to respond effectively to the interpretations of the text by the singer-narrator. From the 19th century, female performers known as onna-jōruri or onna gidayū also carried on this concert tradition.
In the early part of the 20th century, blind musicians, including Shirakawa Gunpachirō (1909–1962), Takahashi Chikuzan (1910–1998), and sighted players such as Kida Rinshōei (1911–1979), evolved a new style of playing, based on traditional folk songs (min'yō) but involving much improvisation and flashy fingerwork. This style – now known as tsugaru-jamisen, after the home region of this style in the north of Honshū – continues to be relatively popular in Japan. The virtuosic tsugaru-jamisen style is sometimes compared to bluegrass banjo.
kouta (小唄) is a style of shamisen historically developed by and mostly performed by geisha and maiko. Its name literally means "little song", which contrasts with the musical genre of nagauta found in bunraku and kabuki; though both maiko and geisha training to play the shamisen will also learn naguata and will occasionally perform nagauta at banquets, the vast majority of musical performances seen at the parties and events they attend are kouta.
Jiuta (地唄, literally "regional song") is a more classical style of shamisen music.
Shamisen in non-traditional genres
[edit]
- Takeshi Terauchi & Bunnys utilized shamisen played by Michiya Mihashi in combo with their instrumental rock group on their single "Tsugaru Jongara Bushi"[11] with "Dark Eyes".[12]
- Japanese rock musician Miyavi has also played the shamisen on various occasions, incorporating its use in albums and during concerts (e.g. during the debut live of superband S.K.I.N concert at the 2007 Anime Expo convention at Long Beach, California on June 29, 2007).[13]
- American tsugaru-jamisen player and guitarist Kevin Kmetz leads a rock band called God of Shamisen, which is based in Santa Cruz, California, and also plays the instrument with the band Estradasphere.[14]
- Japanese traditional and jazz musician Hiromitsu Agatsuma incorporates a diverse mix of genres into his music. He arranged several jazz standards and other famous western songs for the shamisen on his album Agatsuma Plays Standards in 2008. His previous recordings, such as Beyond from 2004, displayed traditional Japanese styles mixed with funk, techno and rock.[15][16]
- Noriko Tadano is a tsugaru shamisen player born and raised in Japan, who now resides in Australia. She has collaborated with a wide variety of musicians from genres such as blues, jazz, folk, experimental and electronic music. Tadano has performed in collaborations at a number of world festivals.[17][18][19] Tadano performed in the blues duo 'George & Noriko' on season 6 of Australia's Got Talent, making it to the finals.[20]
- Wagakki Band is a Japanese folk-rock fusion band that features various traditional Japanese instruments including the shamisen, played by Beni Ninagawa.[21][22]
- Japanese metal group Ryujin has also used the shamisen some of their songs
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Alves, William (2013). Music of the peoples of the world (3rd ed.). Boston, MA: Schirmer, Cengage Learning. p. 320. ISBN 978-1133307945.
- ^ Dalby, Liza (2000). Geisha (3rd ed.). London: Vintage Random House.
- ^ Hueston, Dave (29 December 2016). "Shamisen faces crisis as cat skins fall from favor". The Japan Times. Retrieved 20 May 2017.
- ^ Miki, Minoru (2008). Flavin, Philip (ed.). Composing for Japanese instruments. Rochester, NY: University of Rochester Press. p. 89. ISBN 978-1580462730.
- ^ "Shamisen KATOH". Shamisen-katoh.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ a b Leiter, Samuel L. (2007). Encyclopedia of Asian Theatre: A-N. Greenwood Press. p. 445. ISBN 978-0-313-33530-3.
- ^ a b Kodansha encyclopedia of Japan, Volume 7. 1983. p. 77. ISBN 978-0-87011-627-8.
- ^ a b c Malm, William P. (2000). Traditional Japanese music and musical instruments, Volume 1. Kodansha International. p. 213. ISBN 978-4-7700-2395-7.
- ^ a b Picken, Laurence E. R. (2006). Music from the Tang Court: Some Ancient Connections Explored, Volume 7. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 33–34. ISBN 978-0-521-54336-1.
- ^ Lande, Liv (2007). Innovating musical tradition in Japan: Negotiating transmission, identity, and creativity in the Sawai Koto School. p. 73. ISBN 978-0-549-50670-6.
- ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
- ^ "YouTube". YouTube. Retrieved 28 February 2015.
- ^ "S.K.I.N. debut concert live report at JAME". Archived from the original on 2008-06-13.
- ^ "God of Shamisen interview | ALARM Magazine". Archived from the original on 2008-11-20. Retrieved 2010-02-10.
- ^ "上妻宏光 三味線プレイヤー Hiromitsu Agatsuma Official Website". Agatsuma.tv. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
- ^ Lee, Jian Xuan (29 March 2016). "A father's hobby becomes a son's career". The Straits Times. Singapore. Retrieved 7 February 2017.
- ^ "Kāpiti Coast's one-day festival Coastella announces its line-up". Stuff. 2017-10-25. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ "Powell Street Festival's George and Noriko: how the Japanese Blues Cowboy met the Tsugaru Shamisen Player". The Georgia Straight. 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ "Womadelaide". archive.womadelaide.com.au. Retrieved 2022-04-04.
- ^ "Powell Street Festival's George and Noriko: how the Japanese Blues Cowboy met the Tsugaru Shamisen Player". The Georgia Straight. 2017-08-01. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
- ^ "Guest - Wagakki Band". japan-expo-paris.com. 27 April 2014. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
- ^ "Wagakki Band - 焔 (Homura) + 暁ノ糸 (Akatsuki no Ito) / 1st JAPAN Tour 2015 Hibiya Yagai Ongakudo". youtube.com. 21 January 2020. Retrieved 2024-02-06.
Bibliography
[edit]- "The Shamisen: Tradition and Diversity – BRILL". 13 December 2010. Archived from the original on 2010-12-13. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
External links
[edit]
- Book on Shamisen
- About Shamisen
- Jishin Shamidaiko (Brazil)
- God of Shamisen is a progressive/metal band that has implemented the acoustic and amplified sound of the tsugaru-jamisen
- Nitaboh Official Site (feature movie about the disputed origin of the Tsuragu-jamisen style)
- Kouta Archived 2009-02-04 at the Wayback Machine
- Nagauta
- Hauta – Utazawa – Kouta
- S.K.I.N.'s World Debut – S.K.I.N. debut concert live report at JAME
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