Instruments January 2008

Through this project we learn some informations about some instruments in China and Japan.

THE INSTRUMENTS

Through the history and culture of China and Japan, each country has created its own instruments for the music of the people, for different occasions.
In China, one kind of traditional instrumental is the chamber ensemble of winds and strings called Jiangnan sizhu. Si, it donates stringed instruments because strings used to be made of silk. Instruments belonging to the silk category include plucked strings, bowed strings and stuck strings. Firstly, in plucked category we have pipa, which is, a pear shaped, four-stringed plucked late with a short, bent neck and twenty-four frets. Through the history of pipa, an instrument associated with music for artistic entertainment rather than ceremonies and rituals. In the bowed strings are one or two erthu, which is, two stringed fiddles with hollow wooden cylindrical sound boxes having one side covered by snakeskin. Finally, the struck string is the yangyin a dulcimer struck with a pair of bamboo.
The second category of instruments is the Zhu and it donates wind instruments because they made from bamboo. This instruments that is be longing to bamboo is firstly dizi, which is, a transverse bamboo flute with six singer holes, a mouth hole, and another hole covered by a thin membrane which vibrates to give the instruments a reedy sound. Secondly is the xiao, which is, an end-blown bamboo flute with five frontal finger-holes, one hole in back, and a blowing hole on the top. Finally, is the sheng, which is, a free-reed mouth organ made of a series of bamboo pipes in a circle, each with a reed on its lower end, and all inserted into base made of cooper.
Thirdly, we have the percussion instruments. Firstly, we have a small flat drum called the gu and a paired wooden clapper called the ban, which played by one person. Secondly, is a muyu, which is a carved instrument struck with a pair of wooden sticks. Finally is a pongzhong, a pair of small hand-bells, which may be used in a certain pieces in the repertory.
In Japan, one kind of instruments is the percussion. In the percussion, we have the following instruments. Firstly, is the da-daiko, which is, a huge drum by two thick sticks. Secondly, is the tsuri-daiko, which is a suspended two-headed drum. Thirdly, is the shoko, which is, a small suspended gong played with two sticks. Finally, is the kakko, which is, a small drum whose two heads are struck with thin sticks. The second category of instruments is the strings. In the strings, we have the following instruments. Firstly, is the wagon, which is, a six-stringed zither used in kagura. Secondly, is the gaku-so, which is, a thirteen-stringed zither, a predecessor of the kote. Finally, is the biwa, which is, a pear-shaped lute with four strings and four flets played with a small plectrum.
The thirdly category of instruments is the winds. In the winds, we have firstly the hichiriki, which is, a short, double reed bamboo oboe with nine holes. Secondly, is the kagura-due, which is, a six-holed bamboo flute. Thirdly, is the ryuteki, a seven-holed bamboo flute and the koma-bue, which is, a six-hold flute.
Finally, as we analyze the instruments of China and Japan we understand that they have different instruments and its of them it has its own history and culture.