Shamisen music genres

General
#1

Hi!
I started shamisen recently and I was curious about the different genres of shamisen music;

I know there is nagauta, min’yo and tsugaru but I don’t found many documentation;
Is there other shamisen music genres and do you have examples?

For example, in this video:

There is a musical introduction for the rakugo artist with taiko and shamisen; and I was curious to know what is the genre of this music, played as introduction: does it belong to nagauta/minyo/tsugaru or another?

Thanks!

#2

Hello.

There are about ten different traditional genres associated with shamisen, although it’s applicable to almost everything with a little doing.

Per an acquaintance in Nagoya, there are the following 11:

Nagauta, Hauta, Utazawa, Kouta, Jiuta, Min’yo, Tsugaru, Gidayu, Kiyomoto, Shinnai, and Tokiwaza.

His shop’s website links to some fine examples of Nagauta, Kouta, Hauta, Minyo, Tsugaru, Gidayu, Tokiwaza and Kiyomoto (respectively).

http://www.shamisen.ne.jp/shamisen_life/shamisen-kiso.html#matomehyou

For an example of Shinnai look below:

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#3

Other sources list additional genres:

http://www.shinnai.com/shinnaie/shinnai.html

Indicates 15 seperate genres, although it only names a few classes of Utamono (story songs, basically) [nagauta, kouta, hauta, jiuta, and Ogi-e] and Jorurimono/ Katarimono (emotive pieces) [Gidayu, Tokiwaza, Kiyomoto, Shinnai]

Ogie:

In this video, Yumiko Tanaka (a super cool Gidayu player) lists off some addition genre:

Icchuu, Katou, Miyazono, Zokkyoku, Rokyoku.

Icchuu bushi:

Katou Bushi

Miyazono Bushi

Zokkyoku

Roukyoku

A little bonus:

Yanagawa Shamisen (which uses a very odd, slim bachi)

#4

In terms of actual genre classification, I’m a little limited in my abilities to describe the differences. I’m mostly interested in Min’yo, and what it actually constitutes.

Even there, I have been woefully remiss in reading through the material Gerry McGoldrick provided me months ago (sorry, sorry, sorry).

But perhaps you can hear some of the differences? Some genres are closer than others and may share pieces, but others are pretty clearly separate.

Your easiest indicator is going to be the style of shamisen utilized and the kinds of accompaniment involved. There are some playing differences as well (most notably, posture and bachi use). In those genres which utilize a singer, you’ll likely notice different methods for singing or chanting.

1 Like
#5

Thanks :slight_smile:
I’ll listen it

#6

yes,I also have been wondering about different styles myself.

© 2020 Kyle Abbott