Okinawan Music

Actually, there are many musical genres in Japan such as Kabuki, Okinawan, and pop music. Above these genres, today, I would like to explain about Okinawan music, which is one of the most traditional Japanese music genres.

There are many difference styles between Okinawan music and any other Japanese musical genres. The biggest difference is musical scale. 

Many people are familiar with the musical scales consisting of “DO, RE, MI, FA, SO, RA, SI, DO” sounds. 

On the other hand, the Okinawan music scale does not contain “RE” and “RA” sounds. It only consist of “DO, MI, FA, SO, SI, DO” sounds. 

 Furthermore, they created many instruments, which used Okinawan’s scale like “Shamisen”. 

It is a Japanese stringed instrument, was established at the close of 16th century. It has been used in the ethnical Okinawan festival, mainly when people are dancing the “Bon Odori”. 

Finally, there is a famous Okinawan musical group named BEGIN, who play music by using Shamisen.

                                Here is a video of BEGIN／Shamisen no Hana (三線の花)

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Chinese Music

This week, i would like introduce Chinese music. I noticed that in Europe, music is treated as a culture, on the other hand, it is treated as traditional ethnic activities in China. 

According to my research, there are so many musical instruments which were discovered by China such as Pipa, Yang-Qin, and Gu Zheng. These are all related to their ethnic, and even now,  these are still using in Chinese ethnical activities. 

Today, I would like to explain about Twelve Girls Band more deelply. The group is one of the most famous Chinese musical groups that initially consisted of twelve female members. They use traditional Chinese instruments to play both traditional Chinese and Western music. 

They usually use traditional Chinese instruments in their concert with 12 players, but depends on the concerts, the instruments and the number of players are changing. 

In 2003, the gruop released the album named “Miracle” and “Freedom”, and it became really famous all over the world. Then, in July, 2003, Beautiful Energy, their first album in Japan, reached the top of the J-pop chart and they won Japanese Gold Disc Award in 2004. Twelve Girls Bands became famous especially in Japan, and it has influenced a lot for Japanese musical society. 

Here is a video of 12 Girls Band - Freedom (Live from Shanghai)

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Indonesian Music

This week, I will introduce Indonesian music.

Many European countries such as Portugal, Netherlands, and Spain colonized Indonesia, so they were strongly affected by European culture to be developed their music.

Nowadays, there are a lot of traditional musical genres like GAMELAN, KRONCONG, and DANGDUT are getting famous all over the world.

Above these styles, today, I would like to explain about Kroncong more deeply. Kroncong is one of the most famous pop musical genres in Indonesia, was discovered by Portuguese in the beginning of the 16th century.

The famous Kroncong musicians is Ismail Marzuki, who discovered one of the most famous Kroncong music “Halo Halo Vandun”.

Here is a video link of Kroncong style music.

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Middle East Music

Hi, Everyone! This week, i'd like to introduce the Middle east music. 

The Middle East consists of  a lot of musical genres and musical instruments . 

Typical famous instrument is Tombak, which was discovered by Iranian at the beginning of the 19th century.

The vast majority of the instruments are related to their religion in some ways. Above these instruments, today, I would like to explain about Kanun more deeply. 

Kanun consists of more than 80 strings and it's similar to Japanese Koto. According to my research, most of the stringed instruments consist of 30 to 40 strings, so Kanun is very bigger than other kinds of the stringed instruments. So, its sound is quite smaller than the others. 

Also, Kanun is treated as an important cultural instrument because the most of the famous traditional activities includes “The Arabian Classic Music” has been using it in the area of the Middle East. 

Here is a video of Kanun show - BALAT

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Indian Music

This week, I will introduce Indian musical instruments. Most of Indian instruments are consists of the stringed instrument and it is related to their ethnic. 

Typical famous instruments are Pungi, is called “Snake Charmer”. It was mainly used as an Indian street performance. Also, Bansuri, which is called “Flute of God”, is based on European flute and Japanese recorder. 

Above these musical instruments, today I want to introduce Shahnai in detail. It is known as one of the most famous Indian wooden flute instruments. 

When India did war, Shahnai was used as one way of language. There were more than 100 types of instruction and each sounds have different meaning. Even if someone was in far from their base, when they hear its sound, they were able to understand the instruction easily. 

 Here is a video of Shahnai wizard Ustad Bismillah Khan Plays rag Multani.

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