Japan Instrument
Odaiko- (big drum). The physical energy and
sheer excitement of an Odaiko performance is
an integral part of many Japanese matsuri
(festivals).
Tsuzumi (hourglass-shape) There are two
varieties, the smaller kotsuzumi and the larger
otsuzumi. They 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 placed on
the left thigh
Tsuridaiko a large hanging barrel drum
Taiko - is a Japanese drum that comes in
various sizes and is used to play a variety of
musical genres. It has become particularly
popular in recent years as the central instrument
of percussion ensembles whose repertory is
based on a variety of folk and festival music of
the past.
Koto - is a 13-string zither, about two 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 is used in
an ensemble in gagaku or as a solo
instrument.
Shamisen- is a plucked stringed instrument. Its
construction follows a model similar to that of a
guitar or a banjo, employing a neck, and strings
stretched across a resonating body. The neck of
the shamisen is fretless, and is slimmer than
that of a guitar or a banjo.
Biwa - is a Japanese short-necked fretted lute,
often used in narrative storytelling. The biwa is
the chosen instrument of Benten, the goddess of
music, eloquence, poetry, and education in
Japanese Shinto.
Shakuhachi- the most famous flute made from
bamboo. It has 4 or 5 finger holes on the front
face and a thumbhole on the rear face. As with
other instruments above, it was imported from
China for gagaku.
Nokan - a parallel, bamboo flute (fue) is the
only melodic instrument used in noh. The melody
of the flute has no specific pitch relationship
with the melody of the chanting.
Hichiriki - is a double reed Japanese fue (flute)
used as one of two main melodic instruments in
Japanese gagaku music, the other being the
ryteki.
Sho - is a Japanese free reed musical
instrument that was introduced from China
during the Nara period.
Shinobue also called takebue in the context of
Japanese traditional arts) is a Japanese
transverse flute or fue that has a high-pitched
sound.
Ryteki - literally "dragon flute" is a Japanese
transverse fue made of bamboo. It is used in
gagaku.
China Instrument
Yueqin - Moon-shaped lute with shorter neck
and four strings, played with a spectrum, used
for accompanying local operas.
Pipa - Four-stringed lute with 30 frets and a
pear-shaped body.
This instrument has an extremely wide
dynamic range
and remarkable expressive power.
Erhu - Two-stringed fiddle and one of the
most popular Chinese instruments. It is used as
a solo instrument as well as in small ensembles
or large orchestra, and by various ethnic groups.
Yunluo - Literally "cloud gongs" or "cloud of
gongs", the yunluo is a set of ten small tuned
gongs mounted in a wooden frame. The yunluo's
gongs are generally of equal diameter but
different thickness. The thicker gongs produce a
higher pitch.
Sheng - Sheng, or Chinese mouth organ, looks
like a set of panpipes, with 12 to 36 bamboo
pipes. Each pipe is of different length with a
brass reed at the bottom and a hole that must
be blocked in order for the note to sound. This
makes it possible to sound several notes
simultaneously, so chords and melody can be
performed at the same time. Sheng is one of
the oldest Chinese musical instruments.
Dizi - Dizi is the traditional Chinese flute. It
can have a membrane over an extra hole to give
the characteristic rattle effect. The player
plays the Dizi by blowing across the mouthpiece
and produces the different notes by stopping
the six holes found in the rod
Zheng - An ancient Chinese instrument that has
an arched
surface and an elongated-trapezoid with 13 to
21 strings stretched
over individual bridges. Its playing range spans
three to four octaves.
Pengling - These are two small bells made of
high-tin bronze, without internal clappers, and
hemispheric or bottomless gourd-like in shape.
The instrument has a delicate, clarion and
melodious tone. It is a coloring rhythmic
instrument, either in ensembles or in theater
music, bringing an effect of peaceful dreams.
Korea Instrument
Kayagum (gayageum) - is a traditional Korean
zither-like string instrument, with 12 strings,
although more recently variants have been
constructed with 21 or more numbers of strings.
It is probably the best-known traditional Korean
musical instrument.
Geomungo - Six-string plucked zither is a
traditional Korean stringed musical instrument of
the zither family of instruments with both
bridges and frets. Scholars believe that the
name refers to Goguryeo and translates to
"Goguryeo zither" or that it refers to the color
that translates to "black crane zither".
Haegum (two-string vertical fiddle) It has a
rod-like neck, a hollow wooden soundbox, two
silk strings, and is held vertically on the knee of
the performer and played with a bow.
Piri - used in both the folk and classical (court)
music of Korea. It is made of bamboo. Its large
reed and cylindrical bore gives it a sound
mellower than that of many other types of
oboe.
Changgo - is the most widely used drum used in
the traditional music of Korea. It is available in
most kinds, and consists of an hourglass-shaped
body with two heads made from animal skin. The
two heads produce sounds of different pitch and
timbre, which when played together are believed
to represent the harmony of man and woman.
