Tsugaru sounds

October 19, 2012 4:45 AM

You might find this an agreeable way to spend six minutes and twelve seconds: a two part introduction to the traditional music of Tsugaru, Aomori prefecture, in the far north of the main Japanese island of Honshu. The first piece is a starkly beautiful song, just voice and flute, and the second a solo piece performed on the shamisen, by the late Takahashi Chikuzan, a master of the Tsugaru style. And here you can see Chikuzan in action, rocking the three strings.
posted by flapjax at midnite (12 comments total)

Lovely post, thanks for this.

That Chikuzan clip is astounding.
posted by kinnakeet at 5:40 AM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

This is fantastic! Great post as always.
posted by winna at 6:24 AM on October 19, 2012

Great instrument, and it fits in with modern music pretty well too. There's lots of examples, but this one is my favorite. (warning: video contains topless cartoon mermaids).

Apparently they traditionally cover the body with cat skin, though now of course you can get them with plastic instead. Still: :(
posted by aubilenon at 7:07 AM on October 19, 2012

Great clips. I can't escape the feeling that my life is missing a Chikuzan mash up though. Bo Diddley. Or Jimi Hendrix. Someone.
posted by MuffinMan at 7:20 AM on October 19, 2012

Arpeggio-gato.
posted by humboldt32 at 7:42 AM on October 19, 2012 [1 favorite]

Domo arigato, jax. Brilliant call, as usual.
posted by rdone at 8:03 AM on October 19, 2012

Arigato. That was quite cool!
posted by unwordy at 8:23 AM on October 19, 2012

Great post; I love Japanese music, but have a hard time learning about it and researching it compared to most of my other musical obsessions.
posted by infinitywaltz at 9:47 AM on October 19, 2012

I must drop a link to Shamisen Boogie Woogie by Ichimaru.
posted by in278s at 12:02 PM on October 19, 2012

Bookmarking this. Have been curious about Tsugaru since the Dance Dance Revolution song by that name. yes i am a dork
posted by gusandrews at 12:14 PM on October 19, 2012

gusandrews: the picture for that song with the samurais with Shamisens instead of swords has the wrong number of tuning pegs. :( Still a fun song, though! Orion.78 also features the shamisen.
posted by aubilenon at 4:18 PM on October 19, 2012

I must drop a link

fits in with modern music pretty well

my life is missing a Chikuzan mash up though. Bo Diddley. Or Jimi Hendrix

facepalm.jpg

Some people watch the Chikuzan video and think biwa houshi, others think Bo Diddley.

I remember when I lived in Hakodate in a geshuku, I would sit in the dining room studying while obaasan worked in the kitchen, playing the radio, listening to music like this. My life is missing a radio station with this music on it.
posted by charlie don't surf at 6:13 PM on October 19, 2012