On the san-sagari tuning of the Japanese kokyu

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  • 日本の胡弓の調弦における三下りの意味について
  • ニホン ノ コキュウ ノ チョウゲン ニ オケル サンサガリ ノ イミ ニ ツ

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Sankyoku ensemble music of the early modern period (1600-1868) was originally performed on kokyu, sangen, and so. Even today such performances continue to take place. Such music was important in the development of heterophonic Japanese musical style.<br>Music for the kokyu includes solo pieces, duos performed with shamisen, and sankyoku trios. In the historical development of this music, the kokyu emerged as a bowed string instrument played in typically Japanese style.<br>San-sagari tuning is one of the characteristic features of kokyu music. In order to analyze this tuning, I have focussed on two important playing techniques: suri and uchite. Melodic patterns of classical music have been analyzed, with a special emphasis on melodic movement of the third string of the kokyu in san-sagari tuning. This analysis has shown that four types of melodies may be abstracted from this music. These four types are found only in san-sagari tuning.<br>Finally, I have noted that the relation of san-sagari tuning to scales is important for understanding the characterisics of sankyoku music of the early modern period.

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