MUSC 110: Listening Journal 1 – Tsugaru Shamisen

Directions:

This assignment must be typed following the “Written Assignments Requirement” from the syllabus.

First search for the article called “Japan’s Shamisen Boom” by Claude Aubert. Now, answer the question below in your own words:

Here is the article:

http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?&id=GALE|A111579460&v=2.1&u=highlinecc&it=r&p=AONE&sw=w&authCount=1

1. What is the significance of the Yoshida Brothers to the shamisen and style of Tsugaru-Shamisen?

Now you will practice listening. First, observe and listen to the performance of “Kodo” by the Yoshida Brothers from beginning to end. Next you will observe and listen to the performance as many times as needed to answer the following questions:

2. To start listen to the first 0:14 seconds when one shamisen plays an introduction. Describe two things: the timbre of the instrument, and then how the instrument is played. Be descriptive as possible.

3. Observe and listen to the part from 0:15 – 0:59 seconds, Describe how the two instruments interact with each other? Describe how this changes during the part from 0:59 – 2:05?

4. Observe and listen to the first 0:59 seconds again, paying close attention to the melodic ideas and their repetition, as this will give you a clue to how the song is organized. Tell me how many sections you hear, and describe in detail what you hear/observe that helps you identify sections. Also when you identify the beginning or end of a section, note the time counter.

5. Now listen from beginning to end again, is there anything else about this piece that catches your attention? Why?