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Seattle
Miyagi-kai Koto Association
Sunday, September 7, 2008 from 3:00 p.m. Bellevue Community College Main Campus GYM (G Bldg) [campus map] Stage |
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(Photos
taken in 2007 Aki Matsuri)
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What
is "KOTO"?
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| The
precursor of the Japanese koto was of Chinese origin. It was called
a Yamato-goto (or wa-gon), and was used in Japan before the 7th century.
It had 5 strings and was about 0.9 m in length. The current modern
day koto was brought to Japan in the 7th century and used in Japanese
court music. By the 16th century it had been adapted to suit the Japanese
populace. Today's koto is about 1.9 m long, made of paulownia wood (Kiri no ki), has 13 silk or tetron strings and each string has its own bridge. The strings are strung at equal tension. Varying the bridge position results in a unique pitch for each string. The koto is played with plectra worn on the first three fingers of the right hand (koto-tsume), while the other hand presses on the strings to change the pitch. |
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Seattle
Miyagi-kai Koto Association
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| The
Seattle Miyagi-Kai Koto Association was established in 1957 by its
director, Kuniko Takamura. It is a branch of the Tokyo Miyagi-Kai
founded by the famous koto virtuoso Miyagi Michio to promote traditional
and modern Japanese koto and sangen (a 3 stringed banjo-like instrument)
music. Members of the Seattle Miyagi-Kai have been active performing
music in the Northwest area, including cultural and community events. Contact information - E-mail: seattlemiyagikai@gmail.com Tel: (206)325-9285 |
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