Selections from Koto, Shamisen and Shakuhachi

Various
King Records - KC 6002
1964

Track	Title	Kanji	Length	Artist
1	Rokudan no Shirabe	六段の調	06'13	Koto: Yonekawa Toshiko
	Roku-Dan is instrumental music performed by Koto only. It was completed in the Edo period during the seventeenth century. Koto is an instrument of 13 strings stretched lengthwise on a rather thick hollow wooden body. It was introduced into Japan from China during the early eighth century. Most Koto music is accompanied by a vocal portion, Koto-Uta. Roku-Dan is unique for Koto music as it is without Koto-Uta. Being a kind of etude, it is easy to play even for beginners. At the same time, it is a fine work for music appreciation. The composition is made up of 6 paragraphs of variations. Each one consists of 120 beats. This is the reason why it is called Roku-Dan. Roku means six in English.
2	Tsugaru Yosare Bushi	津軽よされ節	03'26	Shamisen: Takahashi Chikuzan
	Shamisen is a stringed instrument resembling a banjo but has only three strings. Transmitted from old, it is a popular instrument in all parts of Japan. Tsugaru Shamisen which is used to accompany folk songs of the Tsugaru District has a larger body and heavier strings, as distinguished from the ordinary Shamisen used in Naga-Uta and others. Tsugaru Yosare Bushi is a folk song of the Aomori District, performed by Shamisen in solo without song.
3	Kappore	かっぽれ	02'29	Shamisen: Hideo Fujimoto
	This number is a very comical dance music, popular in all parts of Japan. It is widely performed at banquets and other cheerful occasions.
4	Toge Hachiri	峠八里	06'59	Shakuhachi: Isono Chazan
	Toge Hachi-Ri is a composition depicting a mountain pass in mid-summer illustrated by successive moments from dawn to dusk.
5	Echigojishi (nagauta)	越後獅子	03'07	Shamisen: Toyokichi Group
	In Japan, Shishi is a symbolic animal often used for driving out evil spirits. On new year days, it is an old tradition that boys of the Echigo District, accompanied by their protector, dress up as a Shishi to perform dances for driving evil spirit out of private homes for a reward. This is called Echigo Jishi in their native place. This music was composed in 1811 for a Kabuki dance with the theme of Echigo Jishi. The original music is classified into Naga-Uta with Shamisen accompaniment. It was further followed by a composition for Fue, Tsuzumi, Taiko, etc. This record contains only a portion of the most famous melody performed by Shamisen. The latter paragraphs are arranged rumba rhythm.
6	Esashi Oiwake	江差追分	03'05	Shakuhachi: Kikuchi Tansui
	Shakuhachi is a wind instrument of simple construction. It is a bamboo pipe with four stops on the face and one stop on the opposite side. Shakuhachi was already known in Japan during the eighth century. At first, it was used as one of the instruments for Ga-Gaku music. Later it was used as a religious music. In the Meiji Period, it became popular all over the country. Oiwake, a fisherman's song of the Hokkaido District is famous for its lonesome melody.
7	Midare Rinzetsu	乱輪舌	07'26	Koto: Yonekawa Toshiko
	This piece was completed in the early Edo Period, and was composed for performance by Koto only as in case of Rokudan. Midare and Roku-Dan are two indispensable works for study of Koto. The former differs from the latter in rhythm, that is to say Midare has some irregular rhythm passages in each paragraph.
8	Yachio Jishi	八千代獅子	07'38	Shakuhachi: Isono Chazan Koto: Chikushi Katsuko Shamisen: Satō Chikaki
	San-Kyoku means a performance presented by three kinds of instruments. Koto, Shamisen and Shakuhachi in concert. Yachiyo Jishi is the music of the lion Shishi in celebration of a felicitous event.