Type: Aerophones > Flutes > Transverse.
Hornbostel-Sachs No#: 421.121.12
Region: Far East Asia.
Description: The shinobue [In Japanese, kanji 篠笛; also called “takebue” in kanji: 竹笛] it is a Japanese transverse flute or fue that has a high-pitched sound. It is found in hayashi and nagauta ensembles. The shinobue plays important roles in noh and kabuki theatre music. It is heard in Shinto music such as kagura-den and in traditional Japanese folk songs.
History: The shinobue was not originally devised in Japan, it is thought that “Ryuteki” was originally transmitted from Chinese mainland as gagaku flute was supposed to have spread and spread among the common people. During the 8th century [Nara period] and later the 9th century [Heian era] the flute was introduced to Nara, Shosoin, Miyagi prefecture and then Natori City “Shimizu site”.
Excavated flutes have been studied, the scales and structures are each flute differ from each other. To date there is no consensus of a unified history of the flute in Japan. The shinobue to be described later was developed by Yoshinori Fukuhara from the Taisho and the 6th generations from the Taisho era to the early Showa era and the name “Shinobue” was also attached to the flute by Fifu Hoshino Kosuke 5th at that time.
The two styles uta [song] and hayashi [festival]. The uta is tuned to the chromatic scale and it can be played in ensembles or as a solo instrument. The Hayashi is not in the correct pitch, because it is simply a piece of hollow bamboo with holes cut into it. It emits a very high-pitched sound as such, it appropriate for festival / folk music of Japan. Both shinobue flutes play a very important role in the Japanese theatre.
Citations: Bibliography: David W. Hughes, Fue, Ongaku Daijiten / Encyclopedia of Music, Tokyo 1981 ; Stanley Sadie ~ New Grove Dictionary of Music ~ Vol, 3 Book P to Z Page 374 ; Websites: Taiko-shop.com / Fingering Chart of Shinobue ;