RYŪTEKI: Japanese musical instrument
http://worldhitz4u.blogspot.com/2014/03/ryuteki-japanese-musical-instrument.html
The
ryūteki is transverse flute from japan
that is manufactured from bamboo. The musical instrument is used in gagaku, the
Shinto classical music linked with Japan’s imperial court. The sound of the
musical instrument is said to represent the dragons that ascend the skies
between the heavenly lights and the people of the earth. The musical flute is
one of the main flutes that are used in gagaku, especially to play melodies of
Chinese style. The pitch of the musical instrument is lower than the pitch of
the komabue, and higher than the pitch of the kagurabue.
The
ryūteki is held horizontally when it is
being played. The instrument has 7 holes and it is approximately 40 cm long and
an inner diameter of 1.3 cm. unlike the western flute, the holes of the
instrument are not closed by the fingertips, instead the fleshy part of the
finger is used in the covering of the holes. This permits for better control of
half-holing styles and chromatic notes, by raising the finger of the hand
somewhat above the holes of the instrument.
Since the later part of the 20th century,
a few players of the musical instrument have started specializing in the
performance of new music; one of such players is Takeshi
Sasamoto.
Lois V Vierk is one of the few non-Japanese
musicians who have studied the ryūteki.
