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Glossary

Terms commonly used in traditional Japanese music composition and performance.

Ai-no-te
合の手, 合手, or 合
Brief instrumental interlude within a vocal section (Mae-uta, Naka-uta, Ato-uta).
Arui wa
Alternate version
Arui wa nashi
或無
Not played in some versions
Atari
To strike a finger hole
Ato-Uta
後唄
Ending vocal section
Chikuzen inchinyo
The bamboo and Zen are as one
Chirashi
散らし or チラシ
Transitional section, usually between Tegoto and Ato-uta.
Dai Kan
大甲
Third (highest) octave on the shakuhachi
Danmono
段物
Scored in Dans (sections) without vocals
Dojikyoku
Children's song. Actually called "Dokyoku"
Furi
フリ
A rapid meri/kari head dip.
Gagaku
雅楽
Japanese Imperial Court music
Gaikyoku
外曲
Literally, “Outside music”. Usually used by shakuhachi players to describe the music (particularly ensemble music) outside of the solo Honkyoku repertoire.
Gakufu
楽譜
Musical notation
Hachigaeshi
鉢返
Returning the bowl.
Hate
果て
A light kind of honkyoku. Played in the afternoon when free from strict discipline of religion.
Hayai / Hayaku
早い、早 or 早く
Faster
Hōgaku
邦楽
Generally, music for traditional Japanese instruments.
Honkyoku
本曲
The original music, mostly solo pieces, for shakuhachi, often called Zen music due to the traditional history of the shakuhachi’s use as a tool for meditation.
Honte
本手
The main body of a piece. A melodic development in higher register.
Ichi Ji Ichi Ritsu
一寺一律
One temple, one piece
Ichion Jobutsu
一音成仏
To reach enlightenment by the use of only one sound
Jiuta
地歌 or 地唄
Music originally written for voice and shamisen originating in the Kansai region.
Kaede
替手
Second part to be played along with the original melody line or a secondary arrangement of a piece.
Kake-ai
掛合
Call and response section, usually indicated by brackets (「 and 」) at the beginning and end.
Kan
Second (higher) octave on the shakuhachi
Kari
カリ
Blow by putting the chin up, to raise the tone
Kokyū
胡弓
A stringed instrument resembling a Shamisen in construction (and also having origins in Okinawa) that is played with a bow.
Komi Buki
込吹
Pulsing breath technique.
Koto
Often referred to as “Japan’s National Instrument”, the koto is a long, horizontal multiple-stringed instrument with movable bridges that allow changes in scales and tuning, often during play. Its roots can be traced to similar instruments in both Korea and China. The standard version features 13 or 17 strings, but 25+ stringed versions have been available since the early 20th Century.
Kumiuta
組歌
Pieces for Koto license
Mae-Uta
前唄
Opening vocal section
Meri
メリ
Blow by putting the chin down, to lower the pitch
Min'yo
民謡
Japanese folk songs.
Miyakobushi scale
都節
Ascending: D, Eb, G, A, C, D - Descending: D, Bb, A, G, Eb, D
Musubi
結び
Tying up, concluding. Final section of a piece.
Nagashi
Playing in the street
Naka-uta
中唄
Middle vocal section
Nayashi
To begin pitch meri and rise to standard pitch
Nobiru / Nobasu
Slower
Noh
A major form of classical Japanese dance-drama that has been performed since the 14th century.
Otsu (or Ryo)
乙 or 呂
Lowest octave on the shakuhachi
Reibo
鈴慕
Yearning for the Bell
Sankyoku
三曲
An umbrella expression meaning “three voices/instruments” used to describe a wide variety of ensemble music, including Sokyoku and Jiuta. The three instruments are often: Koto, Shamisen, and Shakuhachi.
Shaku
30.30 cm
Shakuhachi
尺八
A traditional Japanese, end-blown bamboo flute. Though the current form of the shakuhachi hasn’t significantly changed since the Edo Period, shorter, 6-holed versions of the shakuhachi in Japan date back to 752 CE when bamboo flutes with a similar blowing edge were gifted to Japan from Chinese ambassadors at an event in the capital city of Nara. The evolution of the shakuhachi from those early examples is unclear, but other versions of an end-blown, bamboo flute (Tenpuku and Hitoyogiri) eventually led to the thicker, heavier “Fuke Shakuhachi”with 5 finger holes and incorporating the root end of the bamboo at the bell. Though bamboo is still preferred, modern shakuhachi can be made in a variety of materials, (ABS plastic, wood, metal), but generally retain the shakuhachi’s unique angled blowing edge to produce tone.
Shamisen
三絃
This three-stringed instrument with origins in Okinawa is often likened to the American banjo in sound. Slightly different versions exist to accommodate different traditional styles of music.
Shinkyoku
新曲
New Pieces. Used mostly to describe early post Meiji era compositions influenced by western music.
Shirabe
調
To check the sounds and move into the proper frame of mind before performing Honkyoku. Exploring / Investigating.
Shōmyō
声明
A style of Japanese Buddhist chant.
Sōkyoku
箏曲
Music originally composed for Koto.
Sugagaki
菅垣
The term Sugagaki, when used in Shakuhachi music, simply means pieces which are unrelated to the Fuke legend. The term Sugagaki also refers to a technique used in solo Koto music without voice.
Sun
3.03 cm
Suri
スリ
See suri age
Suri age
スリ上
A slide upwards
Suri sage
スリ下
A slide downwards
Takane
高音
Section of a honkyoku piece usually played in the upper octave, often containing the climax of the piece.
Takuhatsu
托鉢
The practice of begging for alms by monks / pieces played by Komuso when begging.
Tamane
玉音
Flutter tongue technique
Tegoto
手事
Musical Interlude
Tegotomono
手事物
Musical form with Tegoto
Utaguchi
唄口
The sharp blowing edge of the shakuhachi
Utsu
打(つ)
Hit or strike
Yuri
ユリ
Vibrato