6. Japanese Instrumental Music
Traditional Japanese music is basically
meditative 'in character. Its performance is highly
ritualized, as much in the music 'itself, as in the
composure ■ of the musicians when performing
'it. Japanese chamber and solo music have a slow
meditative pace.
8. 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.
10. Taiko - is a
Japanese drum
that comes in
various sizes and
is used to play a
variety of musical
genres.
11. String Instruments (Chordophone)
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.
12. 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.
13. Biwa - is a Japanese
short-necked fretted
lute, often used in
narrative storytelling.
23. Zheng - An ancient
Chinese instrument
that has an arched
surface and an
elongated-trapezoid
with 13 to 21 strings
stretched over
individual bridges.
24. Idiophone
Yunluo - Literally "cloud
gongs" or "cloud of
gongs", the yunluo is a
set of ten small tuned
gongs mounted in a
wooden frame.
25. Pengling - These are
two small bells made
of high-tin bronze,
without internal
clappers, and
hemispheric or
bottomless gourd-like
in shape.
26. Aerophone Sheng -
Sheng, or Chinese mouth
organ, looks like a set of
ipanpipes, with 12 to
36 I bamboo pipes.