Tsugaru shamisen

Tsugaru-Shamisen

Name: Tsugaru-Shamisen 

Class: Chordophone 

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Origin: Japan 

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Description:  The Shamisen originates from China. It has three strings and is three feet in length with a body and neck. The musicians of Japan began developing their own way of playing it, using a bachi (a large pick). It was primarily used as a background instrument for folk singers in the 18th and 19th Centuries, but as it’s popularity grew, it became an important instrument in Japanese Classical Music and appreciated as a solo instrument in the 20th Century.

Tsugaru refers to the Tsugaru district in the Aomori Prefecture (the northern tip of mainland Japan).

The Tsugaru-Shamisen, known for it’s ‘bluesy’ and powerful sound, has been said to be like a howling of one’s soul: a natural expression of the strength people acquired in learning to survive in the harsh climate of the Tsugaru region

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Information source: Domo Records

Last Updated Thursday, April 03 2003 @ 12:49 PM EST|4,492 Hits