In the category “I found it on the interwebs” -
From a presentation by Yumiko Tanaka (I hope she’s not becoming too popular here), in Taiwan - http://m2.facebook.com/notes/luo-chao-yunpipawoman/2014世界級日本女流義太夫三味線大師田中悠美子日本駐台灣大使館演講會講稿world-famous-japan-gidayu-shamisen-master-y/651429974928725/
A short explanation and a video of her experimental style:
Topic 7: Open improvisation with Shamisen
I have been trying to perform experimental music with shamisen.
So now, I will demonstrate open improvisation music with Luo. Please enjoy!
Duo open improvisation with Luo
My improvisation style is basically the mixture of four methods. The first, a kind of soft noise music by prepared shamisen ; altering the sound by placing objects between or on the strings, the second, combination of free passages which are formed accidentally by the random movement of my hands and fingers, the third, imitation of another genre like a blues or electronic music ,the fourth, quotation from the traditional Gidayu-bushi or another Japanese traditional music.
I sometimes quote the segment and of the story and music from traditional Gidayu-bushi, applying an unique floating mood or high tension of traditional music, and sometimes apply a fingering of traditional way to create phrases, and sometimes utilize the variety of the tone color of gidayu-shamisen.
I think adapting the musical essence of traditional music to the improvised music is very effective.
Life Video: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=683288681712695&set=vb.100000947095266&type=2&theater
Experimental music on shamisen at the least gives a fresh view on the instrument. And I think there could be many interesting playing styles that have not yet been charted. I’ve done some experiments, and eg. found out that it seems possible to pull the strings of shamisen - similar to how you can do on a sitar, though to lesser extent - maybe we could construct metal string shamisen?