The biwa (Japanese: 琵琶) is a Japanese short-necked wooden lute traditionally used in narrative storytelling. The biwa is a plucked string instrument that first gained popularity in China before spreading throughout East Asia, eventually reaching …

biwa, Japanese short-necked lute, distinguished by its graceful, pear-shaped body. The biwa has a shallow, rounded back and silk strings (usually four or five) attached to slender lateral pegs. The instrument is played with a large wedge-shaped plectrum called a bachi.

http://ozoutback.com.au Dan-no-Ura, a narrative song performed in Nara, with the Satsuma biwa, a 4-string Japanese short-necked fretted lute, often used in storytelling.

The biwa is a four stringed lute and it is approximately 106 cm long (42 inches). Biwa. Four frets. NAKAMURA Kahoru Biwa’s back is flat. Biwa’s plectrum. Although shaped like a Western lute, the Biwa 's back is flat and it has a shallower body. The short neck has four raised frets, each one specifically assigned to one of the left hand fingers.

The biwa developed into five different types in its long history: Gaku, Heike, Mōsō, Satsuma, and Chikuzen. Each type has different and unique tones, techniques, and musical styles.

Nov 26, 2024 · The biwa is a traditional Japanese plucked string instrument that holds a significant place in the country’s cultural history. With a pear-shaped body and four to five strings, the biwa is often compared to a lute.

Mar 25, 2024 · The Biwa is a traditional Japanese stringed instrument with a pear-shaped body, a short neck, and four to five strings stretched over frets. The instrument’s back is often slightly curved, enhancing its acoustic properties. It is played with a large plectrum and produces a distinctive, resonant sound.

Japanese music - Biwa, Vocal, Folk: During the late 19th century the biwa-accompanied narratives enjoyed a revival. The blind-priest biwa (moso biwa) tradition had originally been divided into two schools named after the provinces in …

During the 7th and 8th centuries, when Japan began importing Korean and Chinese culture, the Chinese name of the instrument was adopted by the Japanese, but pronounced in Japanese as biwa. The pipa/biwa presumably came to Japan as one of the instruments of a Chinese court orchestral ensemble, known in Japanese as gagaku.

This website provides an historical introduction to the biwa, and in-depth discussion of a selection of 22 representative pieces from the chikuzen biwa repertoire accompanied by the author’s performances.