Traditional music of each of our countries
Written By: Hernandez, Hector Inaba, Mutsumi Kepsu Nana, Bruno Hippolite
Lacayo, Rafael Menjivan, Dora
Prologue
As a group of international students, we would like to introduce music of each of our countries. Now we are trying to overcome language barriers by studying English together. But there is one thing that can do it by itself, directly appealing to our hearts. Music.
Traditional Music of Japan
Cherry blossom festival is held every spring in Washington D.C. Cherry blossom is colored light pink everywhere in this season. Japanese mayor of Tokyo donated 3000 cherry trees for building a close relationship between the U.S. and Japan in 1912. The continuation of the good relations between the two countries has been celebrated until now in this festival. Cherry tree is a symbol of Japan and deeply associated with Japanese culture including traditional music.
In this festival, there is “Koto” music concert every year. “Koto” is a Japanese traditional instrument. It is said that Koto is originally introduced from China in 8 Century. It’s stringed instrument. But its size is big. The length of Koto is 63 to 79 inches and the width is 12 inches. It has 13 strings and the player creates sound by plucking the strings with fingerpicks of right hand or the finger of right hand. The player alters high or low tones of a sound and creates reverberation effects by holding the strings by left hand.
One of the most popular songs of Koto is “Sakura-sakura”. It means “cherry cherry”. When a Japanese musician goes to the foreign country, it is put in a program as one of the repertories, or this song is used for an encore regularly.
The chances to have experiences with Japanese traditional instruments have gradually decreased on the current way of life of Japanese people. However, elementary and middle school students learn about Japanese traditional music and instruments in music classes.
Japanese people is familiar to Koto song because they can hear it everywhere in New Year’s Day and during the cherry blossom season. Please enjoy it. [link:”Sakura-sakura”]
Traditional Music of Korea
Nowadays K-pop, Korean public music, has been very popular even in other countries. It has many attractive features, which are performances by well-trained, good looking idol groups and fullness of cheerful beat sounds. As represented by its name itself, K-pop is very similar to Pop and J-pop in every aspect such as songs, performances and instruments.
However, Korean traditional music is very different from K-pop music. There are roughly 2 types of it, which are the music for the nobility and the music for the commonality.
The former is elegant and artistically fine.
In contrast, the latter is dynamic and full of liveliness. Picking one from diverse instruments and songs of the commonality’s music, my favorite is ‘Suljanggu'. Its title itself explains well what it is. It is played only by janggu(in the picture underneath).
Janggu is a percussion instrument played by 2 different sticks. Its left side is beaten with a shorter stick with a round wooden head, which makes a low and strong sound. Its right side is beaten with slim bamboo stick, which makes a higher and lighter sound resulting in adding more fun and variation to the song.
When I listen to the song ‘Suljanggu', I feel my heart is beating by the simple and basic sound appealing my heart. Now let’s appreciate it. [link: Suljanggu]
Traditional Music of Nicaragua
Nicaragua music is a mixture of different cultures from indigenous tribes, European conquerors, and slaves. Styles of music vary with regions in the country. In the Atlantic coast area, music has a strong Afro-Caribbean influence and its rhythms are intense, sensual, and frenzied. The best way to experience this music is taking part in the Palo de Mayo(may pole), the festival held in a city, Bluefield. In the pacific coast area, North/Central region of Nicaragua, the music is considered to be a mixture of Spanish Culture, which has more of European flavor, with dances like the polka and Mazorka.
The Marimba is Nicaragua’s national instrument made with hardwood plates placed over bamboo or metal tubes of varying lengths. It is played with two or four mallets. They are usually accompanied by a bass fliddle, guitar and guitarrilla(a small guitar similar to a mandolin).
The best examples of Nicaraguan folklore can be found in the music and dance performed during towns’ patron-saint festivities. These folkloric celebrations of patron saint combine the Spanish colonial influence with indigenous celebratory elements. The well-known folklore dances are: Gigante, Toro Huaco, Gueguense, Toro venado, El Atabal, Palo de Mayo, Chinegro, Los zompopos.
Traditional Music of Honduras
The Honduran folk music is fundamental part of the culture of Honduras. The songs of this music are normally written by unknown artists and interpreted by other people, normally students majoring in music.
With these songs, Hondurans express their deep feelings about their land, their traditions and their people. Most of the songs speak about places, traditions and our beliefs on particular trees, plants or animals inhabiting Honduras.
There are a lot of the songs including these: Sos un angel (you're an angel), El bananero, los inditos(the Indians), naci para quererte and conosca Honduras.
Most of these songs are used in culture and civic shows. Also they are learned at primary schools.
The folk Honduran music is played with guitar, marimba, maracas, bass, and drums.
Traditional Music of El Salvador
A baby was born in Santa Ana city on February 28, 1912, who was so gifted that he could delight everyone. His name was Francisco Palaviccini, who was a master of musical art. He directed and produced the carnival ‘Saint Michael’. For the carnaval, he composed songs and choreographed dances such as Adentro Cojutepeque. He became an icon of Folklore from El Salvador with an excellent use of XUC- El Salvadorian traditional musical instrument- for his songs, and it led him to a huge success. The authors
Soyoung, Mutsumi, Rafael, Hector,Bruno, Doris
