The archlute was a double-necked stringed musical instrument of the lute family. It had the bass strings doubled with an octave, and the higher strings with a unison. Research Archlute
The chitarrone was a long double-necked stringed musical instrument of the lute family, popular in Italy during the 16th century. It had wire strings and two sets of tuning pegs, the lower set having twelve and the higher eight strings attached. Research Chitarrone
The cittern or cithern was a musical instrument shaped like a lute, but strung with wire instead of gut and played with a quill or plectrum. Its eight strings were tuned to four notes, G, B, D, and E. It was frequently to be found in barbers' shops for the amusement of the waiting customers. Research Cittern
Gagaku is the ancient court music of Japan and has its origins as far back as the 8th century. It is derived mainly from China and Korea. Gagaku orchestras may consist of as many as 17 musicians playing woodwinds, plucked- string, and percussion instruments. The winds include a flute, usually of the type known as ry Uteki; a short double-reed pipe called hichiriki; and a sho, a free-reed mouthorgan consisting of 17 bamboo pipes inserted in a globular wind chest with a mouth hole. The flute and the double-reed pipe play the melody while the mouthorgan provides a cluster of background tones. Phrases of music are marked off by the sounds of a small horizontal two- headed drum (kakko), a large hanging drum (taiko), and a small gong (shoko), as well as by short melodies and arpeggios played on a four- stringed lute (biwa) and a thirteen-stringed zither (koto).
Gagaku music utilises six modes, or scales, of Chinese origin, all derived from two basic pentatonic scales: ryo, D E F-sharp A B (D), plus G and C- sharp as auxiliary notes; and ritsu, G A C D E (G), plus auxiliary B and F. The meters in gagaku music are basically duple. Research Gagaku
Kagura is the music of Shinto. It is used on formal occasions at shrines or imperial functions and at Shinto folk festivals. The songs and dances are meant to praise the gods and to entertain them. Music at seasonal festivals is performed on drums, rattles, and flutes. Dancers at these festivals perform inside and outside the shrines; their performances are interspersed with chants to the gods. Music at a Buddhist temple in Japan is chanted in one of three languages: Indic, Chinese, or Japanese. The music is marked by highly ornamental singing and free rhythm; bells and chimes are sounded intermittently. The bonodori dances of the o-bon festival are mainly restrained in motion; they are accompanied by singers and sometimes by flute, drum, and samisen, a three-stringed lute. Research Kagura
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Archlute
