Ryukyuan Music
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Ryukyuan music differs from that of mainland Japanese music in many ways. The instrumentation and the melodic structure is slightly different, though there are a few similarities.
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[edit] Similarities and Differences in Instrumentation
The instrument that seems to be present in all Japanese music is the drum, which is found in various forms. Flutes are also found in throughout Japanese music as well as the swung ondo rhythm.
The instrument that defines Ryukyuan music is the sanshin. It is a three stringed lute very similar to the shamisen in that it has sounding body that is taught with skin, but is different in that it is much smaller, it is taught in snake skin, and it is plucked with a plectrum worn on the index finger.
The sanba can often be heard in Ryukyuan music. They are small, flat pieces of wood or plastic that are used to make rapid clicking sounds, similar to the castanet. Sharp bird whistles are also very common.
[edit] Tonality
The following is described in terms used in Western disciplines of music.
Music from the Ryukyu islands uses tonal structure that is different from music from the main islands of Japan. In particular, the intervals used in different musical scales.
The major pentatonic scale used in Japan, for example, uses scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 5, and 6, also known as Do, Re, Mi, So, and La in the Kodaly system of solfeggio. The structure avoids half step intervals, by eliminating the 4th and 7th scale degrees.
Music from the Ryukyu islands, however, is abundant in the half steps not found in Japanese mainland music. A common pentatonic scale from Okinawa is 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, or Do, Me, Fa, So, Ti. In particular, the interval from 7 to 1, or Ti to Do is very common. A folk tune can often be recognized as being Ryukyuan by noting the presence of this interval.
[edit] Genres
The terms ondo and bushi can also be used to describe songs from the Ryukyu Islands, however songs named without these clarifiers is more common. (See the list of songs below.
Kacharsee are quick up-beat songs.
Eisa are songs where drums are played by dancers.
[edit] Themes and Lyrics
List of Ryukyuan songs:
- Tinsagu nu Hana (Okinawan てぃんさぐぬ花 "the Balsam Flowers") is also sometimes spelled Tensagu nu Hana. Okinawan children will squeeze the sap from balsam flowers to stain their fingernails. The lyrics of the song are Confucian teachings. Of the 6 verses, the first three relate to filial piety, while the last three refer to how to respect one's body and one's goals.
Each verse has exactly the same number notes using language and meter devices that are solely Ryukyuan. The English translation tells of the content of the verses but fails to convey the precision and the beauty of the song-
Just as my fingernails are stained with the pigment from balsalm flowers, my heart is painted with the teachings of my parents. Although the stars in the sky are countable, the teachings of my parents are not. Just as ships that run in the night are guided to safety by the northstar, I am guided by my parents who gave birth to me and watch over me. There's no point in possessing magnificent jewelry if you don't maintain it; people who maintain their bodies will live life wonderfully. The desires of the person who lives sincerely will always run true and as a result she will prosper. You can do anything if you try, but you can't if you don't.
- Hana
- Warabigami
- Asadoya Yunta
- Shima nu Hito
- Futami Jouwa
- Ninjoubushi
- Tanchamee
- Jin Jin: The title means "firefly"; the lyrics implore the firefly to "come down and drink". Shoukichi Kina and Champloose's version of this song, with slide guitar by Ry Cooder, was a minor hit in British discos. Takashi Hirayasu and Bob Brozman released a 2000 collaboration album by the same title that is a collection of various Ryukyuan songs or nursery rhymes. Their song Jin Jin is track 6 on this album.
- Subete no Hito no Kokoro ni Hana wo
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