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Musicology (Japanese Music History) Lab
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Research in Japanese music history that explores the narration and melodies of biwa music through musical analysis.
AboutAbout the lab
Reading biwa music through analysis
Assistant Professor Mizuki Somura, who specializes in musicology (Japanese music history), works on musical analysis of traditional Japanese music, especially modern biwa music.
Focusing on Satsuma biwa and Chikuzen biwa, the professor examines the characteristics of biwa narration and melodies.
The professor also studies how music spread in modern Japan through sound media such as radio broadcasts and records.
Belonging to the Acoustic Design division, the professor teaches classes on music and sound outside Western music, including Japanese music history, Asian music history, and ethnomusicology.
Key terms
- Modern biwa music
- Biwa music that developed from the Meiji era onward, including Satsuma biwa and Chikuzen biwa
- Pitch analysis
- Analysis that measures the pitch of sounds in a performance and examines how it moves
- Sound media
- Means of recording or conveying sound, such as radio broadcasts and records
ResearchResearch themes
The lab mainly studies modern biwa music within Japan's traditional music, examining the characteristics of performances and pieces through musical analysis. It also studies how music spread in modern Japan through sound media.
*Illustrative imageInstrument Reform and Melody in Satsuma Biwa
The lab examines the relationship between the reform of the Satsuma biwa as an instrument and the style of its melodies. It also pays attention to playing techniques and body movements in biwa performance.
Expressive Performance of Narration in Biwa Music
The lab examines expressive performance in the narrated sections of modern biwa music, using pitch analysis, which measures how pitch moves, as a clue.
*Illustrative imageMusic Theory of Modern Biwa Music
The lab studies the music theory of modern biwa music, including Satsuma biwa and Chikuzen biwa, using methods of musical analysis.
MembersFaculty
- Assistant ProfessorMizuki Somura
VoicesStudent voices
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Report an errorAbout the images
The top and research theme images are illustrative and were not taken at the lab. They are cropped from Wikimedia Commons images. Cropped CC BY-SA images are provided under the same CC BY-SA license as the original (version shown on each line).
- Top image: “Satsuma Biwa MET 189128” 作者不詳 / CC0 (cropped)
- Instrument Reform and Melody in Satsuma Biwa: “Biwa in black & Ikebana” Kazuhisa OTSUBO / CC BY 2.0 (cropped)
- Music Theory of Modern Biwa Music: “Tuning pegs of a Zhongruan” S099001 / CC BY 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Musicology (Japanese Music History) Lab): “Japanese theatre performance (211)” Savannah Rivka / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Musicology Lab): “"2me Solo de Concert Pour le hautbois avec accompagnement à grand orchestre composé par G. Vogt" (manuscrit autographe) - btv1b of 88)” Vogt, Gustave ( ). Compositeur / Public domain (cropped)
- Related lab (Musicology Lab (Hiroko Nishida)): “Sorabji, Organ Symphony No. 3 manuscript, page 124” Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji (composer); Alistair Hinton (copyright to the music); screenshot from the electronic copy of the score: User:Toccata quarta / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
- Related lab (Japanese Architectural History Lab): “Interior view of the Buddhist temple Hounen Jonin Gobyo with red wooden chest and round straw carpets Chion-in Kyoto Japan” Basile Morin / CC BY-SA 4.0 (cropped)
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