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Essay On The Koto
What is a Koto and Construction
The koto is a string instrument that originated in China and came to Japan in the 7th-8th century. The Japanese koto is a large instrument, about six feet long, consisting of a hollow body made from Paulownia wood (kiri).
The koto is actually a member of the zither family but, since many people are not familiar with that instrument, it is usually referred to as a Japanese floor harp. It is approximately 6 feet long, 1 foot wide and 2 inches thick, with a slightly convex shape. It's made from two pieces of paulownia wood which have been cut lengthwise through the tree (Bonnie, 1976). The top piece is hollowed out in the shape of an upside-down U. It sits on a flat bottom piece, which makes the sounding board. In cheaper instruments, these two pieces are glued to each other and the top, curved piece has lengthwise carvings on its inside face (Bonnie, 1976). However, in more expensive kotos, the top and bottom pieces are specially cut to fit bevel-set into each other and the top piece is hand-carved in a herringbone pattern to enhance sound quality. Originally, koto strings were made of silk. Silk strings are still used occasionally in concerts, but only for very classical pieces.
They have a muted sound and are extremely expensive and fragile. They may only last for a single performance. Nowadays, nylon or tetron strings are used instead. These are more durable and they give a bigger, brighter sound, which contemporary audiences prefer (Bonnie, 1976). The strings of the koto are balanced on moveable bridges. These bridges used to be made of wood but, as with the silk strings, wood produces a rather dull sound. Today, most bridges are made of some kind of plastic...
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