Topic: Why can koto make sound?
Koto is made of princess tree.
We especially use wild princess tree grown in mountains in Aizu (Fukushima prefecture).
Because they were wild trees, each of them has different pattern of wood grain. These patterns actually make each koto's sound also different.
Therefore, only professional craftsmen know what part of wood is suitable to make the highest quality koto and how to cut and shape them.
There are several different kinds of koto depending on what their wood grain are.
・Masa-me (Straight grain): The koto using the center part of timber. Its fibers run in parallel, so its sound is also clear and straight. Suitable for playing koto classic songs.
・Tama-moku: This type of koto's wood grain run randomly and irregularly. The pattern looks like a storm clouds, and it makes the sound deep and complicated. Suitable for playing contemporary songs.
Regardless of the kind wood grain, these kotos must made of trees at least over a half century years-old.
When koto pick pluck strings, its vibration is transmitted to the koto's "Tsuno" (big ridges to hold strings at the head and the end of koto) and adjusted to the specific sound of vibration. This sound is sent to and amplified in the resonance box of the koto's body.
In the resonance box, especially high quality koto of them have traditional carved patterns, such as Ayasugi-pattern and Asanoha-pattern, which help the amplification of sounds.
The amplified sound go through two holes on back of koto, and resonate in the room.
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There are two types of Koto's resonance box: Uwa-kou and Kuri-kou
Uwa-kou type of resonance box have a joint between front and back. Because its front plate is thinner than kuri-kou type of koto, vibrations are easily transmitted to the resonance box, and even beginners can easily make good sound by weak force.
Kuri-kou is a jointless type of resonance box. Because of the thickness of the front plate, it requires a certain amount of force to make good sound, but it allows you to effectively change tones, in other words, add dynamics to songs. Therefore, it is recommended for skilled performers.
The beautiful melody of koto is the result of combination of natural trees, skilled craftsmen and professional koto player.
Therefore, we would like you to hear a live concert.
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KORORIN-SHANN コーナー
At my live concert of koto, while interval of each song, I often talk about some introductions of koto for audiences: what the material is, what the structure is, and how to create it.
For people who do not familiar with koto, koto looks like just a big plank with some strings. Showing the back of koto, pointing the two holes which each of them on koto's surface, and knocking the koto's body to make the vibration are the good ways to make audiences understand the body of koto itself is a resonance box.
When these audiences touch the koto itself, they are surprised at how strong the strings are tightened. It is far stronger than people imagine, and this is one of the reasons that why the koto's sound is loud enough.
Because of the soft and delicate impression of traditional songs played by koto, ordinary people normally misunderstand that koto itself also soft and delicate instrument. In real, koto is the instrument that can make pretty loud sound that can be heard everyone in a concert hall without a mic.
Therefore, not only playing koto, but it is also important to get people interested in koto as an instrument by learn and experience it.
Written by KORORIN-SHANN
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