Ichigenkin
Encyclopedia
An is a Japan
ese single-stringed zither
. Its slender, flat body is carved from kiri (Paulownia tomentosa
) wood. Its silk
string is plucked with a pointed tubular plectrum
placed on the index finger of the right hand while the rokan (a tubular ivory
device similar to a guitar slide
placed over the middle finger of the left hand) slightly depresses the string—though not so hard that it presses against the hardwood soundboard—to vary the pitch. As with the Chinese guqin
, from which it was likely originally adapted, the ichigenkin has no frets, so sliding tones are an important part of the technique of the instrument.
Although the ichigenkin has its own solo repertoire, it is also used to accompany traditional singing. The instrument was once popular among samurai
, literati
, and priests, but today players of the instrument are very rare. The Canadian multi-instrumentalist Randy Raine-Reusch
, perhaps the only non-Japanese ichigenkin performer, has composed and recorded new works for the instrument.
A similar instrument is the Azuma nigenkin, often referred to simply as nigenkin.http://www.asza.com/inigen.shtml
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese single-stringed zither
Zither
The zither is a musical string instrument, most commonly found in Slovenia, Austria, Hungary citera, northwestern Croatia, the southern regions of Germany, alpine Europe and East Asian cultures, including China...
. Its slender, flat body is carved from kiri (Paulownia tomentosa
Paulownia tomentosa
Paulownia tomentosa is a deciduous tree in the genus Paulownia, native to central and western China, but invasive in the US...
) wood. Its silk
Silk
Silk is a natural protein fiber, some forms of which can be woven into textiles. The best-known type of silk is obtained from the cocoons of the larvae of the mulberry silkworm Bombyx mori reared in captivity...
string is plucked with a pointed tubular plectrum
Plectrum
A plectrum is a small flat tool used to pluck or strum a stringed instrument. For hand-held instruments such as guitars and mandolins, the plectrum is often called a pick, and is a separate tool held in the player's hand...
placed on the index finger of the right hand while the rokan (a tubular ivory
Ivory
Ivory is a term for dentine, which constitutes the bulk of the teeth and tusks of animals, when used as a material for art or manufacturing. Ivory has been important since ancient times for making a range of items, from ivory carvings to false teeth, fans, dominoes, joint tubes, piano keys and...
device similar to a guitar slide
Slide guitar
Slide guitar or bottleneck guitar is a particular method or technique for playing the guitar. The term slide refers to the motion of the slide against the strings, while bottleneck refers to the original material of choice for such slides: the necks of glass bottles...
placed over the middle finger of the left hand) slightly depresses the string—though not so hard that it presses against the hardwood soundboard—to vary the pitch. As with the Chinese guqin
Guqin
The guqin is the modern name for a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument of the zither family...
, from which it was likely originally adapted, the ichigenkin has no frets, so sliding tones are an important part of the technique of the instrument.
Although the ichigenkin has its own solo repertoire, it is also used to accompany traditional singing. The instrument was once popular among samurai
Samurai
is the term for the military nobility of pre-industrial Japan. According to translator William Scott Wilson: "In Chinese, the character 侍 was originally a verb meaning to wait upon or accompany a person in the upper ranks of society, and this is also true of the original term in Japanese, saburau...
, literati
Intellectual
An intellectual is a person who uses intelligence and critical or analytical reasoning in either a professional or a personal capacity.- Terminology and endeavours :"Intellectual" can denote four types of persons:...
, and priests, but today players of the instrument are very rare. The Canadian multi-instrumentalist Randy Raine-Reusch
Randy Raine-Reusch
Randy Raine-Reusch is a Canadian composer, performer, improviser, and multi-instrumentalist specializing in wind and string instruments from around the world, particularly those from East and Southeast Asia....
, perhaps the only non-Japanese ichigenkin performer, has composed and recorded new works for the instrument.
A similar instrument is the Azuma nigenkin, often referred to simply as nigenkin.http://www.asza.com/inigen.shtml