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This is a Koten piece from the Nezasa Ha school .

History (from Jin Nyodo)
Nezasa-ha: SHIRABE-SAGARIHA (Urajoshi)

1. About the title:

The same as Nezasa-ha: Shirabe and Nezasa-ha: Sagariha.

2. Structure of the piece

The same as Nezasa-ha: Shirabe and Nezasa-ha: Sagariha.

3. Special features of the piece:

Within the ten pieces of the Nezasa-ha there were originally four tunings (choshi) apart from hon-joshi. These are Akebono (dawn), Kumoi (sky), Yugure (twilight), and Taikyoku (?). Collectively they are referred to as ura-joshi and are played in ensemble with hon-joshi. (However on this recording we find a solo performance.)

The ura-joshi of the three pieces included on this recording (Shirabe, Sagariha, and Matsukaze) is in each case Akebono-joshi. Instead of the 1.8 flute o: hon-joshi a 1.3 flute is used; likewise a 1.5 flute replaces a 2-shaku flute. That is to say, the flute used is a full four steps higher than in hon-joshi.

The skeleton of the melody is identical with hon-joshi but there is more detailed fingering to the articulation (kizami) of the tones than in hon-joshi, so that compared with the latter ura-joshi is more rhythmical and unconstrained and hence more emotional.

When ura-joshi is played in ensemble with hon-joshi, the custom is for the senior or more skilled musician to play ura-joshi. This entwining of the two choshi gives an even richer texture to the piece.

When ura-joshi is played alone it differs from hon-joshi in its more sorrowfully subtle quality. On this recording Shirabe is followed by Sagariha in close succession.