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Index of pieces for Min'yo

Traditional Folk Songs

Compositions for traditional Japanese instruments, from the ancient to the modern.

About Min'yo Music...

Folk Songs and Folk Music

Despite the fact that contemporary life in Japan is modernized to a great extent both in the cities and country, much traditional folk song, music and drama has been preserved. Even work songs which are easily lost because of changing conditions have been kept alive as entertainment for feasts or parties.

Numerous religious rituals, festivals, and feasts are the background for such songs, music and drama. Some of them survive in the original primitive style based upon shamanism, animism, totemism and magic. Many of them have undergone a change because of historical development and because of the influence of art music -especially Shamisen music.

Folk songs in Japan can be classified according to their categories as follows.
a. Work songs. For example, fishing songs, boatmen songs, pack-horse drivers' songs, rice planting songs, wine (sake) makers' songs, etc.
b. Bon Dance Songs. Most common throughout Japan as a Buddhist event in summer (urabon).
c. Songs for entertainment at feasts or parties.
d. Songs for weddings and funerals.
e. Children's songs and cradle songs.

As to the musical style, the most primitive style is in "Enge Meiodik" (narrow melody), the compass of which does not reach an octave, and is often based upon a nuclear tone system. In-mode and Yo-mode are the dominate modes. Yo-mode (a five-tone system without semi-tone) is most characteristic of the more naive songs, while In-mode (a fivetone system with a semitone) is common among folk songs which have been influenced by Shamisen music, although it should be stated that songs of both types are often accompanied by the Shamisen.

As to rhythm, there are two types, free and fitted. Fitted rhythm (usual mechanical rhythm) is common in rhythmic work songs, dance music and songs, and children's play songs. Free rhythm occurs at times in work songs, entertainment songs unaccompanied or accompanied by the Shakuhachi instead of the Shamisen and drums. Drums of various kinds, huge and small, barrel and hour-glass shaped, played with sticks or without sticks, etc., are another important element. Often a transverse bamboo flute, as well as gong, bell and clapper make up the ensemble with the drums. This kind of ensemble is generally called Hayashi, which is the name of the instrumental ensemble of Noh and Kabuki previously mentioned. The Hayashi (hayasu as a verb) primarily means to play and cheer up. Among the numerous kinds of folk music, the largest genre is called Kagura (God music). This folkloric Kagura, called O-Kagura, is completely different from the Kagura of Gagaku which is called Mikagura. O-Kagura occurs often at country shrines and is called Sato-Kagura (country Kagura). Although it varies to a great extent in style, the basic instrumentation of the ensemble is a transverse bamboo flute, drum of medium size, and often a big barrel drum.

Some folk songs of a certain locale have found their way to neighboring villages, towns, provinces, at times far from the place of origination. In this case the style is changed to some extent. Folk songs have rapidly spread all over Japan because of records, radio and TV. In this spread through the mass media, the music has become commercial and the style of the music has changed to one of more artistry and refinement being performed by professionals. At any rate folk music or songs brings nostalgia to the man whose province or
village has produced the particular music or song. For example, the author feels strong a nostalgia in Kandabayashi, since he was born and raised in Kanda of Tokyo.

By Dr. Shigeo Kishibe

A
Agano Hatori-uta
吾野の機織唄
Agarashyare
あがらしゃれ
Agumo Bushi
安曇節
Aikawa Ondo
相川音頭
Aiyama Ondo
相山音頭
Aizu Bandaisan
会津磐梯山
Aizu Genjō Bushi
会津玄如節
Aizu Matsuzaka
会樟松坂
Aizu Ōtsu-e
会津大津絵
Ajigasawa Jinku
鰺ヶ沢甚句
Akagi Shigure
赤城しぐれ
Akai Kutsu
Red Shoes
赤い靴
Akatonbo
赤とんぼ
Aki no Yama Uta
秋の山唄
Akita Bakurō Bushi
秋田馬喰節
Akita Bushi
秋田節
Akita Funakata Bushi
秋田船方節
Akita Jinku
秋田甚句
Akita Kometogi Bushi
秋田米とぎ唄
Akita Kou no Uta
秋田港の唄
Akita Kusakari-uta
秋田草刈唄
Akita Magouta
秋田馬子唄
Akita Mochi-uri Uta
秋田飴売り唄
Akita Motosuri Uta
秋田もとすり唄
Akita Nagamochi Uta
秋田長持唄
Akita Nikata Bushi
秋田荷方節
Akita Obako
秋田おばこ
Akita Oguro-mai
秋田大黒舞
Akita Oiwake
秋田追分
Akita Ondo
秋田音頭
Akita Sakaya Shiktomi Uta
秋田酒屋仕込み唄
Akita Tane Uta
秋田田植唄
Akita Tanto-Bushi
秋田タント節
Akita Umakata Bushi
秋田馬方節
Akita Umakata Bushi - Abeya
秋田馬方節 - あべや
Akita Usubiki Uta
秋田臼挽唄
Ama Fukei
阿波風景
Aminoshi-Uta
網のし 唄
Ane Komo-sa
姉こもさ
Anko Bushi
アンコ節
Aogeba Toutoshi
仰げば尊し
Areko Mosa
姉子もさ
Ariya Yunta
阿里屋ユンタ
Asa no Degake
朝の出がけ
Ashio Ishikiri Bushi
足尾石切節
Ashio Umakata Bushi
足尾馬方節
Atsumori-san
敦盛さん
Awa no Mugiuchi Uta
Awa Wheat-beating Song
阿波の麦打ち唄
Awa Odori
阿波踊り
Ayuga Sawa Jinko
鯵ケ沢甚句
Azumi Bushi
安曇節

B
Banjō Medeta Bushi
盤城めでた節
Baujo Bon Uta
磐城盆唄
Benihana Tsumi Uta
Safflower Picking Song
紅花摘み唄
Beppu Nagashi
別府流し
Bon no Nagashi Uta
盆の流し唄
Bonten Uta
梵天唄
Bungo Oiwake
豊後追分
Burabura Bushi
ぶらぶら節
Bushū Mugiuchi-uta
武州麦打唄

C
Cha Tsumi Uta
茶摘唄
Chagu-Chagu Umako
チャグチャグ馬コ
Chakkiri Bushi
ちゃっきり節
Chichibu Ondo
秩父音頭
Chichibu Zanza-bushi
秩父ざんざ節
Chikugo Sakezukuri-uta
Chikugo Sake Brewing Song
筑後酒造り唄
Chorai Jinku
潮来甚句
Chorai Ondo
潮来音頭
Choshi Tairyou Bushi
銚子大漁節
Chōja no Yama
長者の山
Chōja no Yama
長者の山

D
Danchone Bushi
ダンチョネ節
Date Jinku
伊達甚句
Defune
出船
Dekansho Bushi
デカンショ節
Dodosai Bushi
ドドサイ節
Donan Bon Uta
道南盆唄
Donpan Bushi
ドンパン節
Doya Bushi
どや節
Dōchū Hago Uta
道中馬子明
Dōchū Makata Bushi
道中馬方節
Dōnan Natto Bushi
道南ナット節

E
Echigo Tōkamachi Kouta
越後十日町小唄
Edo Komoriuta
江戸子守唄
Endo Jinku
遠島甚句
Enko Bushi
えんこ節
縁故節
Enkoro Bushi
えんころ節
Ensakahoi
エンサカホイ
Esashi Jinku
江差甚句
Esashi Mochitsuki-bayashi
江差餅っき囃子
Esashi Oiwake
江差追分
Etchu Ohara Bushi
絵中小原節
Etchū Owara Bushi
越中小原節

F
Fukuchiyama Ondo
福知山音頭
Fukuyama Tondo Ondo
福山とんど音頭
Funekogi Nagashi Uta
船こぎ流し唄
Furukawa Zenzenoko
古川ぜんぜのこ節
Fussa Oiwake
房州追分
Futakoe-age Ondo
二声あげ音頭

G

H
Habu no Minato
Habu Harbour
波浮の港
Hachinohe Ko Uta
八戸小唄
Hagi Kari-uta
Hagi Cutting Song
萩刈り唄
Haguro Bushi
羽黒節
Hakata Bushi
博多節
Hakata Dontaku Bushi
博多どんたく節
Hakata Komoriuta
博多子守唄
Hakone Magouta
箱根馬子唄
Hakuto San Bushi
白頭山節
Hamabe no Uta
浜辺の歌
Hanagasa Odori
花笠踊り
Hanagasa Ondo
花笠音頭
Hanami Odori
Cherry Blossoms Viewing Dance
花見踊
Hanayome Ningyo
花嫁人形
Haniu no Yado
Haniwa Inn
埴生の宿
Haru ga Kita
Spring is Coming
春が来た
Haru no Kogawa
春の小川
Heijō Tairyō Bushi
閉上大漁節
Hideko Bushi
秀子節
ひでこ節
Hietsuki Bushi
稗つき節
稗搗節
Hokkai Bon Uta
北海盆唄
Honjō Oiwake
本荘追分
Hyuga Kobiki Uta
日向木挽唄
Hōhai Bushi
ホーハイ節
Hōnen Koi-koi Bushi
Hōnen Koi-koi
豊年こいこい

I
Ikada Bushi
いかだ節
Imogarabokuto
いもがらぼくと
Ina Bushi
伊那節
Ineage Uta
稲あげ唄
Iroha Jingi
いろは仁義
Iroha Jinku
いろは甚句
Ise Ondo
伊勢音頭
Ishi Ha Bushi
石刃節
Ishi-nage Jinku
石投甚句
Iso Bushi
磯節
Isohama Bon Uta
磯浜盆唄
Isohara Bushi
磯原節
Itako Bushi
潮来節
Itsuki no Komoriuta
五木の子守唄
Iwamuro Jinku
岩室甚句
Iyasaka Onda
いやさか音頭
Iyasaka Ondo
いやさか音頭
Izu no Satarō
伊豆の佐太郎
Izumo Ondo
出雲音頭

J
Jongara Bushi
じょんがら節
Jōshū Kouta
上州小唄
Jōshū Magouta
上州馬子唄
Jūsan no Sunayama
十三の砂山
Jūsanhama Ondo
十三浜音頭

K
Kagoshima Bushi
鹿児島節
Kagoshima Hama Bushi
鹿児島浜節
Kagoshima Han'ya Bushi
鹿児島はんや節
Kagoshima Ohara Bushi
鹿児島おはら節
鹿児島小原節
Kaigara Bushi
貝殻節
Kamaishi Mama Uta
釜石浜唄
Kanchōrōrin Bushi
Children on the Temple Grounds
神長老林節
Kanda Bayashi
神田囃子
Kanjō Tairyō Bushi
閑上大漁節
Kariboshi Kiri-uta
刈干切唄
Kawagoe Funa Uta
川越舟唄
Kazoe Uta
数え唄
Kenryō Bushi
兼良節
Kesen Zaka
気仙坂
Kinkirakin
キンキラキン
Kisarazu Jinku
木更津甚句
Kiso Bushi
木曽節
Kiyo Bushi
喜代節
Kodera Ishikiri-uta
小寺石切唄
Kokiriko
こきりこ
Kokiriko Bushi
こきりこ節
Komoriuta
子守唄
Komoro Bushi
小諸節
Komoro Magouta
A Pack-horse Driver's Song of Komoro
小諸馬子唄
Konpira Bunebune
Boats at Kompira
金毘羅舟々
Kotsu-kotsu Bushi
コツコツ節
Kubota Bushi
久保田節
Kumaso Odori no Uta
Kumaso Dance Song
熊襲踊りの唄
Kuroda Bushi
黒田節
Kusatsu Bushi
草津節
Kusatsu Yumomi Uta
草津湯もみ唄
Kutsugake Kouta
沓掛小唄
Kuwana no Tonosama
桑名の殿様
Kyushu Tanko Bushi
九州炭坑節

M

N
Nagamochi Uta
長持唄
Nagasaki Burabura Bushi
長崎ぶらぶら節
Nagasaki Nonnoko Bushi
長崎のんのこ節
Nagoya Jinku
名古屋甚句
Nanbu Kobiki Uta
南部木挽唄
Nanbu Ushioi Uta
南部牛追唄
Nanbu Yoshare Bushi
南部よしゃれ節
Natsu no Yama-uta
夏の山唄
Natsukashi no Virginia
Carry Me Back to Old Virginny
なつかしのヴァージニア
Natuyoi Matsuri
夏・宵祭り
Nikata Bushi
荷方節
Nikkō Waraku Odori
日光和楽踊り
Nikkō Yamauta
日光山唄
Niwa no Chigusa
庭の千草
No-e Bushi
ノーエ節
Nonoko Bushi
のんのこ節
Noto Fune Kogi-Uta
Noto Boat Rowing Song
能登舟こぎ唄

O
O Baba
おばば
O Bon Odori
盆踊り
O Edo Nihon Bashi
The Nihonbashi Bridge in Edo
お江戸日本橋
Obaba (Gifu Ondo)
おばぱ(岐阜音頭)
Obonai Bushi
生保内節
Oga Jinku
男鹿甚句
Oitoko Bushi
おいとこ節
Oki Owara Bushi
隠岐おわら節
Okosa Bushi
おこさ節
Ondo no Funauta
音戸の船唄
Onoda Jinku
小野田甚句
Onoda Jinku
小野田甚句
Osaka Bon Odori
大阪盆踊
Osake
お立酒
Otachi Sake
お立ち酒
Otemoyan
おてもやん
Otoko Nara
男なら
Owashi Bushi
Owase Bushi
尾鷲節
Oyamako Bushi
お山こ節
Ozaya Bushi
おざや節

P
Pompokonya
ポンポコニャ

R
Ringo Bushi
りんご節
Ryōtsu Jinku
両津甚句

S
Sa no Sa
さのさ
Sado Jinku
佐渡甚句
Sado Okesa
佐渡おけさ
Saitaro Bushi
斉太郎節
Sakaya Uta
酒屋唄
Sakura Sakura

さくらさくら
San Gai Bushi
三階節
Sansa Shigure
さんさ時雨
Sawauchi Jinku
沢内甚句
Seichō Hakata Bushi
正調博多節
Seichō Kariboshi Kiri Uta
正調刈干切唄
Seichō Oiwake
正調追分節 (Seichō Oiwake Bushi)
正調追分
Seki no Gohon Matsu
関の五本松
Sekurabe
Comparing Statures
背くらべ
Sendō-san
Boatman
船頭さん
Senkōba Okesa
選鉱場おけさ
Shanshan'uma Dōchū Uta
シャンシャン馬道中唄
しゃんしゃん馬道中唄
Shibanba
しばんば
Shigesa Bushi
しげさ節
Shikararete
叱られて
Shimabara no Komori Uta
島原の子守唄
Shimotsui Bushi
下津井節
Shin Sansa-Shigure
新さんさ時雨
Shin Sōma Bushi
新相馬節
Shin Tosa Bushi
新土佐節
Shinano Oiwake
信濃追分
Shinjō Bushi
新庄節
Shiogama Jinku
塩釜甚句
Shirahama Ondo
白浜音頭
Shōnai Obako
庄内おばこ
Shōnai Obako
庄内おばこ
Shōnai Obako
庄内おばこ
Sumikō Bushi
炭抗節
Sunayama
砂山
Suzuka Magouta
鈴鹿馬子唄
Sōma Bon Odori
相馬盆踊り
Sōma Bon Uta
相馬盆唄
Sōma Bon Uta
相馬盆唄
Sōma Bushi
相馬節
Sōma Mago no Uta
相馬馬子の唄
Sōma Nagare Yama
相馬流れ山
Sōma Nihengaeshi
相馬二遍返し
Sōran Bushi
そうらん節
ソラン節

T
Tabaru Zaka
田原坂
Tabaruzaka
田原坂
Tairyo Utaikomi
大漁唄い込み
Tairyō Bushi
大漁節
Tairyō Iwai Uta
大漁祝い唄
Takeda Bushi
武田節
Takeda no Komoriuta
竹田の子守唄
Takeno Shintarō-san
岳の新太郎さん
Tanabu Oshimako Bushi
田名部お島コ節
Tankai Bushi
淡海節
Tanko Bushi
炭坑節
Tanokusatori Uta
Rice Field Weeding Song
田の草取り唄
Tanto-bushi
たんと節
Tennen No Bi
The Beauty of Nature
天然の美
Tokachi Umauta
十勝馬唄
Tokiwa Tankō Bushi
常磐炭抗節
Tomoshibi
燈火
Tosa no Sunayama
十三の砂山
Tsugaru Aiya Bushi
津軽あいや節
Tsugaru Jinku
津軽甚句
Tsugaru Jongara Bushi
津軽じょんがら節
Tsugaru Kenryō-bushi
津軽謙良節
Tsugaru Kobiki
Tsugaru Kobiki Uta
津軽木挽
Tsugaru Ohara Bushi
よされ小原節
津軽おはら節
Tsugaru Ondo
津軽音頭
Tsugaru Yamauta
津軽山唄
Tsugaru Yosare Bushi
津軽よされ節
Tsukino Sabaku
Desert Moon
月の砂漠
Tsurusaki Odori
鶴崎踊り
Tōge no Wagaya
Home on the Range
峠のわが家
Tōjin'okichi
唐人お吉
Tōshima Jinku
遠島甚句

U

W
Waiha-bushi
ワイハ節
Warabe-uta
わらべうた
わらべ唄
Watanoha Reibo
渡波鈴慕

Y

Z

Ō
Ōedo Shusse Ko-uta
大江戸出世小唄
Ōshima Anko Bushi
大島アンコ節
Ōshima Bushi
大島節
Ōshima Sentarō Tabi-uta
お島千太郎旅唄
Ōtone Zukiyo
大利根月夜
574 Pieces