聴く旅
A listening journey
Twelve short steps into the traditional music of Japan and China. Each one gives you a few recordings to hear in order, one thing to listen for, and a few words to know. It takes about ten minutes, plus the listening.
It starts with the oldest sounds and the qin, the zither of the Chinese scholar, then moves out to the court, the temple, the theatre and the village. Go in order or start anywhere. Steps still being written are marked.
Step 1The oldest sounds
Flutes of crane bone nine thousand years old, a set of 65 bronze bells that each sing two notes, and the five-tone scale behind much of the music that followed.
Step 2The qin and the scholar
The seven-string qin, the instrument of the Chinese scholar, played for oneself or one friend. Its three kinds of sound, and the story of the friend who knew the music.
Step 3Reading old scores: dapu
Old qin scores say which string and which finger, but not how long each note lasts. Every revival of an old piece is someone's reconstruction, called dapu.
Step 4One court music, four countries
Being written.
Step 5Breath as music: shakuhachi honkyoku
Being written.
Step 6Strings that speak: pipa, civil and martial
Being written.
Step 7The zither family
Being written.
Step 8Lineage: music lives in people
Being written.
Step 9Voices and stages
Being written.
Step 10Islands and borders: Okinawa and folk song
Being written.
Step 11The first recordings
Being written.
Step 12Living tradition today
Being written.