The Koto is a stringed instrument that came to Japan from China during the 7th and the 8th centuries. It is a large instrument that is about six feet in length and it has a hollow wooden body and 13 strings. The strings are ichi, ni, san, shi, go, roku, shichi, hachi, kyu, ju, to, i and kin respectively. These strings are tied over the top of bridges that are on each end of the instrument's body and they are all the same size as well as the same tension. The ji is a movable bridge on the instrument that is placed somewhere along each string's length. When the strings are lifted away from the body of the instrument by this bridge, it allows them to resonate when the player strikes them using plectrums on the thumb and two fingers.

Because of the fact that Koto music has a long history, this type of music has seen a great many changes through the years. During the Japanese Heian period, for example, which ran between 794 and 1185, the Koto appeared to be played in the form of a solo instrument for the court. However, as court life began to disappear during subsequent periods of time, the Koto music still remained to be played in the world of noblemen and priests. For a long period of time, Koto music was regarded as an official occupation for men that were blind, and this form of music seems to have been confined to them.

Adding vocal accompaniment to meditive forms of music finally began to appear near to the 16th century, but the performance of this style of music was largely limited only to use in temples. Koto music began to be played outside of its once restricted audience in the 1600s by Yatsuhashi Kengyo. He invented brand new tuning styles for the Koto, and began to compose a variety of new pieces for the instrument as well. In fact, it has been said that Yatsuhashi Kengyo is one of the greatest Koto music composers that ever lived. After the death of Yatsuhashi Kengyo, the Koto was not only opened to blind professional male musicians, but rather it also became an interesting musical instrument among female members belonging to well to do families across Japan.

Ikuta Kengyo, who lived from 1666 to 1716 worked on merging Koto music with traditions associated with the much more popular, much more widespread and much livelier instrument known as the shamisen, which is an instrument that is similar in nature to the lute and that was quite popular during this time period especially in the many entertainment districts within Japan. Today, the Ikuta school, or Ikuta ryu puts emphasis on ensemble music between the Shamisen and the Koto instruments.

Photo Credits: buyalex

Originally posted 2009-10-08 03:38:16. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Related Posts

• The History of the Harpsichord The history of the Harpsichord can be traced back to the 15th century, but the instrument actually got its start from the psaltery, which was a stringed instrument that the player held upright to pluck its strings (unlike the dulcimer which rested on the player's lap so the strings could......
• 12 Tips for Oboe Playing Here are some tips and warnings for learning how to play the oboe, and even more importantly, learning how to play the oboe well. 1 - Do not blow too hard when playing the oboe, as you may end up with a sound that is harsh and unpleasant. 2 -......
• A Little About Dulcimers A dulcimer is a fretted instrument that most commonly includes three or four strings. The fretting is usually diatonic and spreads along a fingerboard attached to the instrument's body. It became popular in old-time American music in the 1800s. It is believed to have been brought over from Scotland or......
• A Brief History of Banjos The banjo was originally developed and used by African Americans enslaved in the South. The slaves used gourd to create makeshift instruments that looked like the ones they used in Africa. In fact, the word "banjo" is believed to have evolved from a Kimbundu term for a similar musical instrument.......
• Metal Instruments 101 pt 2 ... Flexatone continued. It is fixed at the wide end to a metal frame that is approximately 30 cm or 12 in in length that possesses rubber beater or wooden beaters at the lower end, attached to rods. The player will wave the flexatone instrument around so that the beaters......

Related Websites

• Learn to Play Bass Guitar For someone starting out with a first instrument, a bass guitar is an excellent choice. The bass guitar is probably the easiest stringed instrument to learn to play, far easier than either an acoustic or electric guitar, a banjo, a mandolin, or a violin, for instance. And a stringed instrument......
• Art Deco Furniture Antiques -> Periods and Styles -> Art Deco Art deco furniture antiques are highly sought after and are often very unique pieces. If you love this time period, or if you are simply looking for furniture that transcends the every day mundane design, art deco furniture is the perfect choice.......
• The History of the Bass Guitar The electric bass guitar is a staple of the music scene today. It provides the bass spectrum of sound to the likes of rock, jazz, metal, blues and numerous other musical acts. The bass may provide one part of the larger melody, or be featured as the primary instrument. Over......
• The Legacy of Jaco Pastorius - Joe Sinaguglia For over twenty years now, the planet has been without the presence of Jaco Pastorius, the revolutionary electric bass player of the 70s. He was a member of the group Weather Report and later led his own bands. Sadly, the lifestyle caught up to him in 1987. Despite his death,......
• Bass Instruments: The History of the Bass Guitar Instruments teach the people who use them a great deal. For playing an instrument, you can have your first example of love without need of love in return from a person loving their instrument, you can learn notes and patience and many other valuable lessons, some of which have to......

Online Stores

• Parts Piano Acoustic Musical Instruments
• Sprayer Trombone Brass Acoustic Musical Instruments
• Gdad Chords Bouzouki/ Mandola String Acoustic Musical Instruments
• Flat Polished Acoustic Guitar Strings Acoustic Musical Instruments
• Removing Smell From Acoustic Guitar Cases Acoustic Musical Instruments

If you liked this article, vote for it on del.icio.us and stumbleupon.



Categories:

Acoustic Musical Instruments, Instrument History, Koto

Tags:

1600s, 16th century, hachi, japanese heian period, koto music, kyu, male musicians, movable bridge, music composers, noblemen, period of time, priests, six feet, solo instrument, stringed instrument, style of music, temples, two fingers, type of music, vocal accompaniment