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Resources
Books
CDs
Videos
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Books about koto and Japanese music
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The Kumiuta and Danmono Traditions of Japanese Koto Music, Willem Adriaansz,
University of California Press, ISBN 0-520-01785-4
An absolute "must-have" for any serious koto teacher, player or researcher.
This scholarly text contains some of the most detailed information available in English about koto.
Contents include history of the instrument, specifics regarding koto construction in both Ikuta and
Yamada styles, information on the various styles of koto notation, detailed descriptions of classical
and modern techniques for both hands, details of the different koto tunings, the actual structure of
danmono and kumiuta pieces, 5-line score + romanized song + song translation for a number of
important kumiuta pieces, classification charts for all the pieces by tunings/number of songs/type
of piece and a huge bibliography. Make every effort to own this.
Tegotomono - Music for the Japanese Koto, Bonnie C. Wade, Greenwood Press, ISBN 0-8371-8908-X
A detailed study of the song-and-instrumental "tegotomono" pieces, including Western transcription
of the pieces used, in both Ikuta and Yamada variants when available. Text also includes some
discussion of techniques, tunings, etc., among other information. (The book's original incarnation
was a thesis for Dr. Wade's M.A. degree.)
Anthology of Sokyoku and Jiuta Song Texts, compiled and translated by Gen'ichi Tsuge,
Academia Music Ltd., ISBN 4-87017-017-5
An excellent resource for those studying these types of classical pieces. Each piece includes
brief information about the song, its structure, and the story behind it. The Japanese text is
transcribed into Romaji (Western alphabet) and an English translation of the song running
alongside the transcription. At the back of the book, you will find all the song texts written
in proper Japanese characters. This book is based on Yamada koto style and includes one
section specific to that repertoire which performers of Ikuta style may find unfamiliar.
However, the rest of the text contains almost all the major songs common to both koto styles.
Since these koto song texts are also used in jiuta shamisen, this book is a great tool for
performers of both instruments with respect to appreciating the song texts and the poetry
upon which they are based.
East Asia: China, Japan and Korea: Garland Encyclopedia of World Music Volume 7,
edited by Robert C. Provine, Yosihiko Tokumaru , J. Lawrence Witzleben, ISBN: 0824060415
This volume of the encyclopedia covers the
music of all the above countries, as well as
a small amount of information on Inner Asia. Each country's section contains articles
on: issues and processes, musical genres, music in society, and regional and minority
music and issues. Comes with an audio CD containing samples of the various styles
from each country. Japan is covered in Part 4 at almost three hundred pages. For
further details, go to
http://www.routledge-ny.com/books.cfm?isbn=0824060415
Japanese Musical Instruments, Hugh de Ferranti, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-590500-8
A small book providing an overview of
traditional instruments. The book includes literary
references to musical instruments from sources that span the tenth to the twentieth centuries.
Traditional Japanese Music and Musical Instruments, William P. Malm, Kodansha International,
ISBN 4770023952
Similar type of overview as above, although
more detailed and with photos.
Revised edition comes with CD.
The Traditional Music of Japan, Shigeo Kishibe, Ongaku no tomo sha Corp., ISBN 4-276-13301-7 C1073
Another overview of Japanese music,
but focus is the instruments in their
historical and cultural contexts.
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CDs - where to find them online
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If you read Japanese or can find someone to read it to you, your best source anywhere on the Internet to
date is Tokyo's Hogaku Journal website. Here you'll find recordings of any style of music performed
on traditional Japanese instruments and recordings of traditional Japanese music performed on any
instrument. Over 500 CDs listed and growing, most of them involving koto. (If your computer doesn't
have a Japanese program, see the listing on the Links page for Shodouka.)
Hogaku Journal - http://www.hogaku.com
Amazon.com has a pretty decent selection of traditional, contemporary and avant-garde koto disks.
Search for keyword "koto". Many selections have audio clips to sample before you buy.
Amazon.com - http://www.amazon.com
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Koto video clips online
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Below are four archived video performances from the Kennedy Centre Millennium Stage in
New York. They run about an hour each.
April 5, 2003 koto and shakuhachi duo
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=ENSEMBEAST
November 25, 2001 koto ensemble
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=KYOTOKAMOT
April 1, 2001 and March 26, 2000 koto ensembles (2)
http://www.kennedy-center.org/programs/millennium/artist_detail.cfm?artist_id=TOHOKOTODC
You can also find online performances of koto, shamisen and taiko at
http://shofu.pref.ishikawa.jp/shofu/geinou_e/gakki/index_e.html. The site's navigation
is a bit confusing, but if you pursue it, you'll be able to find the "movie" button for
each instrument that will take you to its performance.
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