Sho
The sho, the Japanese mouth organ descended from the Chinese sheng, is used in gagaku (court music). Air blown through the projecting mouthpiece circulates through the lacquer air chamber activating tiny rectangular metal reeds mounted in the sides of some of the tubes. The tubes are arranged symbolically in the form of folded phoenix wings.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sho
- Period: Early Tokugawa period
- Date: 19th century
- Geography: Japan
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Bamboo, wood, metal
- Dimensions: L. longest pipe 45.4 cm (17-7/8 in.); L. shortest pipe 18.1 cm (7-1/8 in.)
- Classification: Aerophone-Free Reed-mouth organ
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1968
- Object Number: 68.62.2
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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