I think the question of being able to play exactly a half-tone is a=20
tricky question when it comes to Japanese Music.
Kurahashi San told me once that the honkyoku half-tone is almost the=20
same as the Western half-tone, though a bit smaller, while when playing=20=
sankyoku with koto and shamisen it is normally a bit lower than the=20
honkyoku half-tone. This means that it is near a third of a tone. But I=20=
know that koto players of the Sawai school tune their koto according to=20=
Western tempered scale, while I have met numerous Ikuta, Seiha players=20=
who never use a tuner so they could tune their koto by year, thus not=20
according to the Western tempered scale. Their half-tone is always=20
lower. It must also be said that orchestra musicians will tell you that=20=
the worst instrument to play with is the piano because it is tempered.=20=
Violonist, singers and other instrument will adjust their half-tone to=20=
the tonal attractions of the melody, thus making it at times smaller=20
than the tempered half-tone. So, to be strict all the times about=20
half-tone is not that necessary. One adjust it to the situation.
Best!
Bruno
Le 04-04-05, =E0 09:39, Tom Hare a =E9crit :
> Hi All--
>
> I've been following the conversation on pitch with some interest and=20=
> some frustration. This is a topic that inevitably comes up among=20
> beginning shakuhachi players, not without reason, given the difficulty=20=
> in establishing and maintaining correct pitch. It seems quite=20
> plausible that traditional shakuhachi players, whether honkyoku=20
> performers or ensemble performers, may have had little regard for=20
> absolute pitch, but I don't think that justifies a laissez-faire=20
> attitude about it. It may not be important whether your A is 440 or=20=
> 435, but if you don't have a solid technical competence in maintaining=20=
> consistent pitches and intervals, then your playing will not reflect=20=
> the potential inherent in the pieces you're working with. Once you=20
> can maintain consistency, then, of course, it's your call whether you=20=
> make a given "tsu-meri" just a half-step above "ro" or less or more=20
> than a half-step, but you have to be able to play precisely that=20
> half-step before you are in a position to choose not to play it.
>
> Best,
> Tom Hare
>
Bruno Desch=EAnes
-------------------------------------------------------------
Bruno Desch=EAnes
T=E9l.: (514) 277-4665
E-mail: bruno@musis.ca
Site Web: http://pages.infinit.net/musis/
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