biwa instrument classification biwa instrument classification

Written by Nobuko Fukatsu Kishibe, Shigeo. It eventually became the favored instrument to accompany narrative singing, especially on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu where it was performed by blind Buddhist priests (ms). The 4-string chikuzen biwa (gallery #1) is constructed in several parts and needs to be assembled and strung before being played. [53] The introduction of pipa from Central Asia also brought with it virtuoso performers from that region, for example Sujiva (, Sujipo) from the Kingdom of Kucha during the Northern Zhou dynasty, Kang Kunlun () from Kangju, and Pei Luoer () from Shule. An early depiction of pipa player in a group of musicians. What is known is that three main streams of biwa practice emerged during this time: zato (the lowest level of the state-controlled guild of blind biwa players), shifu (samurai style), and chofu (urban style). It is however possible to produce the tremolo with just one or more fingers. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. [14][15][16], The pear-shaped pipa is likely to have been introduced to China from Central Asia, Gandhara, and/or India. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. Thought to be of Persian origin, the biwa was brought to Japan in the 8th century via Central Asia, China and the Korean Peninsula. For other uses, see, Illustrations from the 15th century Korean work, Xiansuo Shisan Tao (, later incorporated into Complete String Music ), Note that some people claimed Pei Xingnu to be the female player described in the poem, History of lute-family instruments Short-necked lutes, "The pipa: How a barbarian lute became a national symbol", "Avaye Shayda - Kishibe's diffusionism theory on the Iranian Barbat and Chino-Japanese Pi' Pa', "Chapter 1: A General history of the Pipa", "Bracket with two musicians 100s, Pakistan, Gandhara, probably Butkara in Swat, Kushan Period (1st century-320)", The Golden Peaches of Samarkand: A Study of T'ang Exotics, "Pipa - A Chinese lute or guitar, its brief history, photos and music samples", A report on Chinese research into the Dunhuang music manuscripts, "Chapter 3 Musical structure in the Hua Collection", "Comparison of Three Chinese Traditional Pipa Music Schools with the Aid of Sound Analysis", "Lui Pui-yuen, master of Chinese music, returns to perform once again", "Incubus - Mike Einziger Guitar Gear Rig and Equipment", "[search page, albums featuring Yang Jing]", "La scne musicale alternative pkinoise vue par Jean Sbastien Hry (Djang San)", "BC GRIMM Experimental Acoustic-Electric Music EPK", "Experimental Electric Pipa - , by Zhang Si'an (Djang San )", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pipa&oldid=1138787889, Articles with dead external links from January 2018, Articles with permanently dead external links, Articles containing Chinese-language text, Articles with unsourced statements from August 2019, Articles with MusicBrainz instrument identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, Flute and Drum at Sunset / Flowery Moonlit River in Spring, This page was last edited on 11 February 2023, at 16:35. The short neck of the Tang pipa also became more elongated. The excerpt is performed by the ensemble Reigakusha. Chikuzen Biwa. Malm, William P. 1959. In Satsuma-biwa classical pieces, the thickest string (the first) is in principle used only as a drone, and usually tuned to the same note as the third string, making the second the lowest. Its classification is a type of a Chordophone. This singing style is complemented by the biwa, which biwa players use to produce short glissandi throughout the performance. Although typically it is used to play short standardized phrases between lines of vocal text, it may be used for longer programmatic pieces depicting battles, storms, or other dramatic events. https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/502655, Mary Elizabeth Adams Brown ; Clara H. Rose (d. 1914), The Met Collection API is where all makers, creators, researchers, and dreamers can now connect to the most up-to-date data and images for more than 470,000 artworks in The Met collection. [12] The plectrum is also critical to creating the sawari sound, which is particularly utilized with satsuma-biwa. The pear-shaped biwa lute has enchanted listeners in Japan for centuries. A player holds it horizontally, and mostly plays rhythmic arpeggios in orchestra or ensemble. This type of biwa is used for court music called gagaku (), which has been protected by the government until today. Public domain data for this object can also be accessed using the Met's Open Access API. The strings on a biwa range in thickness, with the first string being thickest and the fourth string being thinnest; on chikuzen-biwa, the second string is the thickest, with the fourth and fifth strings being the same thickness on chikuzen- and satsuma-biwa. Telling stories and holding religious practices with biwa accompaniment became a profession for blind monks, and it was these wandering blind monks who carried on the tradition. The biwa (Japanese: ) is a Japanese short-necked wooden lute traditionally used in narrative storytelling. The biwa is related to the Chinese pipa, an instrument that was introduced to Japan in the late 7th century. They recognized that studies in music theory and music composition in Japan almost entirely consisted in Western theory and instruction. When two strings are plucked at the same time with the index finger and thumb (i.e. The biwa is a pear-shaped instrument with four or five strings. This type of biwa is used for court music called gagaku (), which has been protected by the government until today. Pipa is also an important component of regional chamber ensemble traditions such as Jiangnan sizhu, Teochew string music and Nanguan ensemble. Exploiting the sound of the open strings increases the overall sounds volume. [17][14] Starting about the 10th century, players began to hold the instrument "more upright", as the fingernail style became more important. Shamisen. [39] The plectrum has now been largely replaced by the fingernails of the right hand. Seeing its relative convenience and portability, the monks combined these features with their large and heavy gaku-biwa to create the heike-biwa, which, as indicated by its namesake, was used primarily for recitations of The Tale of the Heike. Typically, the lowest notes of the arpeggios are open strings, while the highest ones can either be fingered pitches or an open string. The biwa, considered one of Japan's principal traditional instruments, has both influenced and been influenced by other traditional instruments and compositions throughout its long history; as such, a number of different musical styles played with the biwa exist. The chikuzen biwa is played with the performer in the seiza position (on the knees, legs folded under) on the floor. Today, the instrument is played in both narrative and instrumental formats, in the traditional music scene as well as in various popular media. The biwa arrived in Japan in the 7th century, having evolved from the Chinese bent-neck pipa (; quxiang pipa),[1] while the pipa itself was derived from similar instruments in West Asia. 5-string: biwa (gallery #2): Over the centuries, several types of biwa were created, each having a certain size plectrum, a specialized purpose, a unique performance technique, and varying numbers of strings and frets. Heike Biwa (), Medium: CLASSIFICATION DIAGRAM OF WOOD A fundamental structure of string instruments in the Asia and Western is a box-sound hole structure [4,5] as seen in the harpsichord, guitar, violin, and biwa . Played with a large wooden plectrum, the instrument has four or five strings of twisted silk stretched over four or more . [24] However, it continued to be played as a folk instrument that also gained the interest of the literati. The biwa's Chinese predecessor was the pipa (), which arrived in Japan in two forms;[further explanation needed] following its introduction to Japan, varieties of the biwa quadrupled. Plucking in the opposite direction to tan and tiao are called mo () and gou () respectively. A distinctive sound of pipa is the tremolo produced by the lunzhi () technique which involves all the fingers and thumb of the right hand. The interval between the pitches of the open string and first fret is a major second, while the interval between pitches on two adjacent frets is a minor second. Ms Biwa () Japanese. to the present. During the war time in early 20th century, biwa music was easily adapted to the nationalism of Imperial Japan, and many songs that emphasized the virtue of loyalty and sacrifice for the country were created and widely played. [citation needed]. Japanese Music and Musical Instruments. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. Its pick or bachi () is the largest among all types of biwa it sometimes. It is not used to accompany singing. It was in the late 20th century that this instrument started to be re-discovered and re-evaluated in various musical settings, such as soundtrack for movies and ensemble and orchestra music, culminating in Toru Takemitsus signature piece November Steps, which premiered in New York City in 1967. Beginning in the late 1960s, these musicians and composers began to incorporate Japanese music and Japanese instruments into their compositions; for example, one composer, Tru Takemitsu, collaborated with Western composers and compositions to include the distinctly Asian biwa. L 31 1/2 W. 11 13/16 D. 1 5/16 in. The instrument itself resembles gaku-biwa but is slightly smaller, and is held horizontally. A new way to classify the acoustical properties of woods and clearly separate these two groups is proposed in this paper. In the beginning of the Taish period (19121926), the satsuma-biwa was modified into the nishiki-biwa, which became popular among female players at the time. Japanese and foreign musicians alike have begun embracing traditional Japanese instruments, particularly the biwa, in their compositions. In the present day, there are no direct means of studying the biwa in many biwa traditions. 3 in. The biwa developed into five different types in its long history: Gaku, Heike, Ms, Satsuma, and Chikuzen. Instruments are classified using 5 different categories depending on the manner in which the instrument creates the sound: Idiophones, Membranophones, Chordophones, Aerophones, & Electrophones. [49] In Nanguan music, the pipa is still held in the near-horizontal position or guitar-fashion in the ancient manner instead of the vertical position normally used for solo playing in the present day. The fourth and fifth strings, if 5-stringed, are tuned to the same note. The biwa is a plucked string instrument that first gained popularity in China before spreading throughout East Asia, eventually reaching Japan sometime during the Nara period (710794). The chikuzen-biwa was used by Buddhist monks visiting private residences to perform memorial services, not only for Buddhist rites, but also to accompany the telling of stories and news. Though formerly popular, little was written about the performance and practice of the biwa from roughly the 16th century to the mid-19th century. Its plectrum is much smaller than that of the satsuma-biwa, usually about 13cm (5.1in) in width, although its size, shape, and weight depends on the sex of the player. Kindai-biwa still retains a significant number of professional and amateur practitioners, but the zato, heike, and moso-biwa styles have all but died out. 1. Non-traditional themes may be used in these new compositions and some may reflect the political landscape and demands at the time of composition, for example "Dance of the Yi People" which is based on traditional melodies of the Yi people, may be seen as part of the drive for national unity, while "Heroic Little Sisters of the Grassland" extols the virtue of those who served as model of exemplary behaviour in the People's commune.[48]. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. It always starts from the 4th string and stops on either the 3rd, 2nd, or 1st string depending if the arpeggio contains 2, 3, or 4 pitches, respectively. The 5-string specimen is larger (the vibrating length of its strings is 30.3 inches) and heavier than the 4-string specimen and also has some delicate decorative detail added that is carved out of mother-of-pearl (detail #8 and #9). HornbostelSachs 1 Hornbostel - Sachs Hornbostel - Sachs (or Sachs - Hornbostel) is a system of musical instrument classification devised by Erich Moritz von Hornbostel and Curt Sachs, and first published in the Zeitschrift fr Ethnologie in 1914. [41] Three Ming dynasty pieces were discovered in the High River Flows East (, Gaohe Jiangdong) collection dating from 1528 which are very similar to those performed today, such as "The Moon on High" (, Yue-er Gao). In Satsuma-biwa classical pieces, the thickest string (the first) is in principle. Although no longer as popular as it once was, several chikuzen biwa schools have survived to the present day in Japan and to a lesser extent in Japanese communities abroad (such as in Hawaii). Liu Dehai (19372020), also born in Shanghai, was a student of Lin Shicheng and in 1961 graduated from the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing. Reflecting its history as an instrument for samurai, its music is often described as dynamic and heroic. Sun performed in the United States, Asia, and Europe, and in 1956 became deputy director of the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra. Traditional Chinese narrative prefers the story of the Han Chinese Princess Liu Xijun sent to marry a barbarian Wusun king during the Han dynasty, with the pipa being invented so she could play music on horseback to soothe her longings. Other prominent students of Lin Shicheng at the Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing include Liu Guilian (, born 1961), Gao Hong and Wu Man. greatest depth of resonator, multiple (by pressure stopping against fretted fingerboard). You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The instrument was invented in China in the 3rd to 5th centuries AD, during the Jin dynasty. , one can make two or three notes for each fret and also in-between notes. The biwa, originally an instrument of high society, gradually spread among wandering blind monks who used this instrument to tell stories. Also known as mouth organ. This music called heikyoku () was, cherished and protected by the authorities and particularly flourished in the 14-15. The archlute ( Spanish: archilad, Italian: arciliuto, German: Erzlaute) is a European plucked string instrument developed around 1600 as a compromise between the very large theorbo, the size and re-entrant tuning of which made for difficulties in the performance of solo music, and the Renaissance tenor lute, which lacked the bass range of the With the rounded edge of the resonator resting in the players lap and the peg box end of the instrument tilted to the left at about a 45-degree angle from vertical, the biwas soundboard faces forward. Guilds supporting biwa players, particularly the biwa hshi, helped proliferate biwa musical development for hundreds of years. 2. Its size and construction influences the sound of the instrument as the curved body is often struck percussively with the plectrum during play. It was originally used by traveling biwa minstrels, and its small size lent it to indoor play and improved portability. The main part of the music is vocal and the biwa part mostly plays short interludes. The electric pipa was first developed in the late 20th century by adding electric guitarstyle magnetic pickups to a regular acoustic pipa, allowing the instrument to be amplified through an instrument amplifier or PA system. Considering that the metronome marking of this music rarely exceeds the quarter-note at 54, and that the biwa plays mostly on the 1st beat of each measure, it is the authors impression that hazusu and/or tataku may help the biwa player keep time by providing material/action that cuts the duration of a measure in two, even if it cannot be heard. This is the original form of biwa that came to Japan in the 8th century. This causes a sustained, buzzing noise called, which adds a unique flavor to the biwa sound. This 5-stringed lute with a powerful. There are more than seven types of biwa, characterised by number of strings, sounds it could produce, the type of plectrum, and their use. [74], Modern pipa player, with the pipa held in near upright position. Also, thanks to the possibility of relying on a level of virtuosity never before attempted in this specific repertory, the composer has sought the renewal of the acoustic and aesthetic profile of the biwa, bringing out the huge potential in the sound material: attacks and resonance, tempo (conceived not only in the chronometrical but also deliberately empathetical sense), chords, balance and dialogue (with the occasional use of two biwas in Nuove Musiche per Biwa), dynamics and colour.[4]. These works present a radical departure from the compositional languages usually employed for such an instrument. Ye Xuran (), a student of Lin Shicheng and Wei Zhongle, was the Pipa Professor at the first Musical Conservatory of China, the Shanghai Conservatory of Music. Of the remaining post-war biwa traditions, only higo-biwa remains a style almost solely performed by blind persons. [23], During the Song dynasty, pipa fell from favour at the imperial court, perhaps a result of the influence of neo-Confucian nativism as pipa had foreign associations. [21] The pipa underwent a number of changes over the centuries. Waribachi: This is a downward sweeping of the four strings, dividing the motion into two groups of two notes. It is assumed that the performance traditions died out by the 10th or 11th century (William P. Malm). 1. [12][13] Yet another term used in ancient text was Qinhanzi (), perhaps similar to Qin pipa with a straight neck and a round body, but modern opinions differ on its precise form. [21] For example, masses of pipa-playing Buddhist semi-deities are depicted in the wall paintings of the Mogao Caves near Dunhuang. [69] The instrument is also played by musician Min Xiaofen in "I See Who You Are", a song from Bjrk's album Volta. They recorded the critically acclaimed CD "Eagle Seizing Swan" together. The heike-biwa (), a biwa with four strings and five frets, is used to play The Tale of the Heike. 20002023 The Metropolitan Museum of Art. biwa, Japanese short-necked lute, distinguished by its graceful, pear-shaped body. A. Biwa B. Koto C. Shakuhachi D. Shamisen 3. [44] The first volume contains 13 pieces from the Northern school, the second and third volumes contain 54 pieces from the Southern school. Players hold the instrument vertically. [24], In the subsequent periods, the number of frets gradually increased,[26] from around 10 to 14 or 16 during the Qing dynasty, then to 19, 24, 29, and 30 in the 20th century. Chikuzen was an historic northern province on Kyushu, the southern-most main island of Japan. It is similar in shape to the chikuzen-biwa, but with a much more narrow body. A string instrument which is made of Paulownia wood that is used in an ensemble in gagaku or a solo instrument. Pipa is commonly associated with Princess Liu Xijun and Wang Zhaojun of the Han dynasty, although the form of pipa they played in that period is unlikely to be pear-shaped as they are now usually depicted. Its boxwood plectrum is much wider than others, often reaching widths of 25cm (9.8in) or more. The five-stringed pipa however had fallen from use by the Song dynasty, although attempts have been made to revive this instrument in the early 21st century with a modernized five-string pipa modeled on the Tang dynasty instrument. The biwa ( Japanese: ) is a Japanese short-necked wooden lute traditionally used in narrative storytelling. This seeming shortcoming is compensated for by the frets height and the low tension of the strings. Famous pieces such as "Ambushed from Ten Sides", "The Warlord Takes Off His Armour", and "Flute and Drum at Sunset" were first described in this collection. The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889, Accession Number: This type of biwa music has been preserved until now in gagaku (), or the court orchestra. length The four and five-stringed pipas were especially popular during the Tang dynasty, and these instruments were introduced into Japan during the Tang dynasty as well as into other regions such as Korea and Vietnam. Since the biwas pegs do not move smoothly, tuning the instrument to a different mode requires time. [citation needed], In 2014, an industrial designer residing in the United States Xi Zheng () designed and crafted an electric pipa "E-pa" in New York. As part of the Met's Open Access policy, you can freely copy, modify and distribute this image, even for commercial purposes. [17] Even higo-biwa players, who were quite popular in the early 20th century, may no longer have a direct means of studying oral composition, as the bearers of the tradition have either died or are no longer able to play. Its plectrum is the same as that used for the satsuma-biwa. In the performers right hand the bachi (plectrum) is held, its upward-pointing tip used to pluck the strings near the string holder. The biwa strings are plucked with large wooden pick called bachi () that requires a full-handed grip.