Japanese is here.
'Ryuteki' Flute
Ryuteki is a musical instrument of the Gagaku Orchestra
Ryuteki is also called 'youjou' or 'outeki', meaning whole of transverse flute.
Ryuteki was used in the Imperial Court music and in dance 'Gagaku', its was introduced from China ancient time.
Gagaku has been decorate the many events of imperial court or temples for a long time.
Playing Ryuteki was a fashion of upper-class people, such as a 'Kizoku' and 'Bushi'.
Material of Ryuteki
Smoked bamboo from miscanthus roof(100 or more years old).
Generally, the material of this flute is dried bamboo.
Especcially, well smoked(kept over 100 years) bamboo is better.
We call smoked bamboo in Japanese "Susudake".
Structure of Ryuteki
This sample of scale is not a fixed size. It's necessary to ajust tuning.
The main material is bamboo. Inside the pipe, it's painted thick and hard laquer 'Japan-urushi'.
There are several reasons for painting 'Japan-urushi'. One is to produce a powerful sound, and another is for tuning. One more purpose is to protect corrosion.
There is a piece of lead inside the upper side of the pipe.
There is a peice of ebony tree, formed bamboo joint, called 'Semi'(it means cicada), because it looks like the cicada.
There is a wrapping decoration called 'kabamaki', 'kaba' means bark of a cherry trunk.
'Kabamaki' is make up from long strap 'kaba', that is long link of thin cutting piece of bark.
There are finishing touches of 'Japan-urushi', inside is vermillion and outside is black.
Fingering of Ryuteki
There are nine fingerings form. And there are 14 scales of tone.
The lower octavein the same fingering is called 'Fukura', and the upper octave is 'Seme'.
We learn 'shouga'(mnemonics to mimic the song of the flute) at first, when we practice.
It is very important and useful method of practice.
The sound with the fingering 'Syaku'(two left fingers covering the hole) is a musicl scale 'Ohshiki' closed to the European tuning 'A'(440Hz).
Music score 'Etenraku'
This score of 'Etenraku' is very famous in Japan.
We often hear this music at wedding parties or New Years events.
'Etenraku' is also old tune, it was introduced from China about 1200 years ago.
To play RealVideo or RealAudio, get the Real Player and install it.
You can enjoy 'Etenraku' by flute or 'Syouga' on mouse click.
'Etenraku' (Real Audio ".rm" 411KB)
'Etenraku'-'Syouga' (Real Audio ".rm" 261KB)
@to Top