Traditional Japanese Music
	Traditional music in Japan encompasses a range of styles and instruments. Some are sombre and formal, others less so. Take, for example, the music of the gagaku orchestra with its stately rhythms, often so slow that it can be hard to feel any beat at all, or the music of the Noh theatre where measured singing from behind masks is punctuated by drums and the mysterious yo! ho! calls of the drummers. Then there is a wealth of beautiful, solo instrumental music - for example the koto, with its delicate harp-like tones, or the shakuhachi - fluid, meditative melodies played with rich and varying tone colour. Contrast these with the vigour and verve of the festival musicians who play outdoors on drums and flutes to accompany processions and festival dancing, and folk singers, their voices often cracked and hoarse but thick with emotion, singing lullabies, work songs, drinking songs.... Takemitsu was very influenced by Western music and most of his compositions are largely western in style and orchestration. But he did write several pieces incorporating traditional Japanese instruments, including the shakuhachi, the shô and biwa, and he also wrote a whole piece scored for gagaku orchestra. Below is a brief outline of some of the major instruments used in traditional music, including those Takemitsu used.
	Strings
	The Shamisen is a three stringed, banjo-type instrument. One of the strings is set so that it lies flat against the neck which makes it buzz when plucked. It is played with a plectrum, much larger than a guitar plectrum which adds to the rough quality of the sound. Different sizes of instrument and plectrum are used for different settings - for example a large, robust instrument for folk music and to accompany storytelling, and a more delicate one for accompanying classical songs. The Koto is a 13-stringed zither or floor-harp. Dating back to ancient times, it has close associations with the Imperial Court and has a large solo repertoire as well as playing as part of small "chamber" ensembles with shakuhachi and shamisen. It is also a member of the gagaku ensemble, or court orchestra. The Biwa is a Chinese-style lute with four strings, originally played by blind priests to accompany their storytelling. The strings are set very high above the finger board, so that the only way to stop the string completely is to place a finger over a fret ( which are also set high), but this limits the pitches available, so players also press in between the frets. In this case it is impossible to press the string against the neck, so the pitch of the note depends on how hard you press. Playing in this way stretches the strings, which are made of gut or silk and this produces a rough, buzzy sound.
	Wind
	The shakuhachi is an end-blown bamboo flute, with five holes and no keys. The pitch of certain notes is achieved by adjusting the angle of the head to the instrument, and this technique is also used to "bend" the pitch of individual notes, or to slide from one to another. Originally played by wandering priests for alms, the shakuhachi has connections with Zen Buddhism. As well as being a solo instrument, it can also be played in an ensemble with shamisen and koto and is sometimes used in folk song, shadowing the vocal line. The shô is a set of seventeen reed pipes of different lengths, clustered together in a circle and played held cupped in both hands. The sound is a little like a mouth organ, though more reedy. It is a key member of the gagaku ensemble. The hichiriki is a small oboe-like instrument played with a very thick double reed. The sound is strong and very penetrating. Another member of the gagaku ensemble.
	Further Information
	JFET: Japan festival Education trust Swire House, 59 Buckingham Gate, London SW1E 6AJ tel: 0171 630 8696 fax:0171 9318453 email: jfet@mailbox.ulcc.ac.uk   Japanese Arts Resources Traditional, Japanese Music both sites have links to many pages that include pictures and audio examples of the instruments