Satsuma Biwa (薩摩琵琶)
This lute came to Japan in the seventh century. Several types of biwa have been developed to suit different genres and performance styles. Unlike the modern Chinese pipa, the biwa is played with a triangular-shaped plectrum and is held more horizontally. Biwa music includes a repertoire derived from court narrative traditions and others from Buddhist sutra recitation.
Artwork Details
- Title: Satsuma Biwa (薩摩琵琶)
- Date: ca. 1800
- Geography: Japan
- Culture: Japanese
- Medium: Wood, mother-of-pearl and ivory
- Dimensions: 35 × 12 1/8 × 11 1/2 in. (88.9 × 30.8 × 29.2 cm)
- Classification: Chordophone-Lute-plucked-fretted
- Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1968
- Object Number: 68.62.1
- Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments
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ca. 1835
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20th century
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