The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-04-30

troduced from Manila as late as the eigh-
teenth century.
Tile present style of Japanese music was
brought over from China some time during
the seventh century, or about the same
lime the Chinese characters were intro
duced. but like all that the Japanese adopt
they have modified and changed many OF its
features until IL has become thoroughly
Japanese in character. Nearly every jap
anese girl plays the samisen little, Just as
the majority of our women play the piano
or have some slight knowledge of music.
There are three methods of tuning the
samlsen when ii is played as solo instru-
ment, the most common being called the
tronchoshi, or true. Sometimes two SAINT
sens are played together in a sort of duet
when the pitch of the accompanying one is
raised considerably higher han that of the
saml5en which plays the melody. OF the
instrument itself, there are several kinds,
the Jorurl samisen being the largest. The
maker held in highest repute is Koomi, who
makes his samisenS of sh'tan and HARM
wood.
The parchment covering is of catskin of
certain age. which is ascertained by count
Ing the nipples on the animals body. The
strings are OF silk, hardened with n coating
OF glue, and the bridges of bamboo, ivory,
horn, or even tortoise shell if the samisen is
valuable one. There is no notation or
system of writing for the samisen. and the
teachers of that instrument violently object
10 one being introduced, on the ground that
II The art became SO common then every one
could play and the teachers would lose
their means of livelihood.
Singing girls who have grown too old for
the stage frequently teach the samisen as n
means OF earning living. The want of a
notation makes learning q very wearisome
business. The teacher hofds the pupils
hand and puts each finger on the desired
note. After little progress has been
made the instructor simply sits in front of
the pupil, each having an instrument of her
OVID, and plays a little tune, which the
pupil tries to initiate by watching each
movement OF the teachers fingers The
progress made by the young musician is de-
pendent solely upon the powers of imta-
tiOn and memory she may exhibit
Singing and playing usually go together,
so lar as the samlsen is concerned, the in
strument being used as an accompaniment.
There are several distinct styles of singing.
which is in reality more like recitation than
vocal music.
OF male voices invented by master named
Gldalyu. and called after him. This re-
qulres Tor the accompaniment the largest
SIZED samlsen strung with very h eavy
strings and bachi OF a thicker sort The
Dachi is piece of ivory with sharp corners,
when is used 10 pluck the strings, for the
myers are never employed.
A curious strained style of singing in
hlgh iaisetto Is the method taught children.
A high pitched squeal is perhaps the aptest
IL nncompllmentary description.
mere are great many other STYLES of
singing besides this, however, certain
klnd oil song being written for each sort.
Masters guarded the secrets of their pro-
fession very jealously. They delighted In
nothing so much as mystery, and rivals or
would-be pupils thought it eommendable