Saturday, May 30, 2009
Koto
The koto is a traditional Japanese stringed musical instrument derived from the Chinese zither, it is the national instrument of Japan. Kotos are about 180 centimetres long and have 13 strings that are strung over 13 movable bridges along the length of the instrument. Players can adjust the string pitches by moving these bridges before playing, and use three finger picks (on thumb, forefinger, and middle finger) to pluck the strings. Introduced to Japan in the 7th and 8th century from China, it originated in its earliest form in the 5th century. The first known version had five strings, which eventually progressed to seven strings. It had twelve strings when it was introduced to the China and increased to thirteen strings when it was introduced to Japan in the early Nara Period (710-784).This variety of instrument came in two basic forms, a type that had bridges and those types without bridges. Originally, the word koto was a generic term for any and all Japanese string instruments impoprted to Japan. Over time the definition of koto being all string could not describe the wide variety of these string instruments and the names were changed.
A koto is typically made of Paulownia wood. Kotos may or may not be adorned, some adornments include inlays of ivory and ebony.The bridges used to be made of ivory, but nowadays are typically made of plastic, and occasionally made of wood. For some very low notes, there are small bridges made, as well as specialty bridges with three different heights, depending on the need of the tuning. When a small bridge is unavailable for some very low notes, some players may, as an emergency measure, use a bridge upside down. Bridges have been known to break during playing, and with some older instruments which have the surface where the bridges rest being worn due to much use, the bridges may fall during playing, especially when pressing strings.
The strings are made from a variety of materials like silk strings but they cost more and are not as durable, but claimed to be more musical. The strings are tied with a half hitch to a roll of paper or cardboard, about the size of a cigarette butt, strung through the holes at the head of the koto, threaded through the holes at the back, tightened, and tied with a special knot. Strings can be tightened by a special machine, but often are tightened by hand, and then tied. One can tighten by pulling the string from behind, or sitting at the side of the koto and some instruments may have tuning pins installed, to make tuning easier.Labels: Koto - history and how they are made
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11:50 PM
