Comments on: Tsugaru sounds

Tsugaru sounds

flapjax at midnite — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 04:45:43 -0800

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.

By: kinnakeet

kinnakeet — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 05:40:11 -0800

Lovely post, thanks for this. That Chikuzan clip is astounding.

By: winna

winna — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 06:24:58 -0800

This is fantastic! Great post as always.

By: aubilenon

aubilenon — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:07:35 -0800

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: :(

By: MuffinMan

MuffinMan — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:20:53 -0800

Great clips. I can't escape the feeling that my life is missing a Chikuzan mash up though. Bo Diddley. Or Jimi Hendrix. Someone.

By: humboldt32

humboldt32 — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 07:42:25 -0800

Arpeggio-gato.

By: rdone

rdone — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:03:37 -0800

Domo arigato, jax. Brilliant call, as usual.

By: unwordy

unwordy — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 08:23:51 -0800

Arigato. That was quite cool!

By: infinitywaltz

infinitywaltz — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 09:47:46 -0800

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.

By: in278s

in278s — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:02:03 -0800

I must drop a link to Shamisen Boogie Woogie by Ichimaru.

By: gusandrews

gusandrews — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 12:14:47 -0800

Bookmarking this. Have been curious about Tsugaru since the Dance Dance Revolution song by that name. yes i am a dork

By: aubilenon

aubilenon — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 16:18:27 -0800

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.

By: charlie don't surf

charlie don't surf — Fri, 19 Oct 2012 18:13:26 -0800

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.