Japanese Music - Assignment Example

Shakuhachi After I have discovered the world of Japanese culture, especially music and musical instruments, I really want to try the flute, shakuhachi, myself. There is something special in this instrument, something that calms me down and makes me think positive. Ive learned that there are some differences between Japanese and Western flute. First thing that catches the eye is that they are different in form and material. Shakuhachi is made from wood (bamboo) and is smaller than the Western flute that is usually made from metal, but may be made from wood as well.

Another major difference is embouchure. The Japanese one is a vertical flute, and we taut an upper lip, a lower lip stays relaxed, so the instrument can produce fuller, brighter, and more "detailed" sounds, which the Western flute cant make because the lower lip is not relaxed. The laxity of the lower lip is of importance when different variations of pitch and timbre are produced. As for Elizabeth Reian Bennett, deceleration, elasticity of beat and pitch within a certain range, as well as the use of silence, breath, and articulation when playing the instrument are other crucial things to note the difference between two flutes.

I think, the uniqueness of shakuhachi sound makes it desirable to take part in so many music genres. For example, aficionados of classical music will find some sophisticated and somewhat tangle features in shakuhachi sound while the lovers of jazz appreciate its rhythm and timbre. In my opinion, such music prefer adults rather than teenagers because among youngsters other types of modern music, such as pop, rap or electronics, are popular. But I am the teenager who have found wabi, sabi, and yugen in a piece of music that touched my heart.

Work CitedElizabeth, Reian, Bennett, M n.d. elizabethreianbennett.wordpress.com, viewed 27 February 2015.