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Chapter 20
Master Musicians of the Ikuta-ryu
Cherry Blossom
Chapter at a Glance
Listen to This First
The Timbre of the Koto
Melody: The Wilt of Sorrow
Theme and Variations Form
Connect Your Playlist: Theme and Variation
Textural Variety on the Koto
Chapter Objectives
After reading this chapter and listening to the work, students should be able to:
20.2 Discuss the koto as an instrument.
20.4 Listen for the pentatonic melody in Cherry Blossom and its variations.
20.6 Locate other examples of zither-like instruments from around the world.
Key Concepts
theme and variations form, pentatonic scale, tremolo, extramusical content
Chapter Highlight: Theme and Variations Form
A theme followed by a series of varied versions is a basic form in musical cultures
throughout the world. In this piece for koto, a plucked stringed instrument from Japan,
a Japanese folk melody provides the basis for a series of six variations.
Chapter Summary
The koto is a plucked zither with 13 strings, played with ivory plectra on the right thumb
and first two fingers, while the left hand controls pitch with pressure on the strings. The
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(A, B, and C).
Cherry Blossom, a Japanese folk song about the short life of the flowers,
symbolizes the human life cycle. The first tone is for tuning and considered a part of the
Listening Guide
Cherry Blossom consists of a prelude (to check the tuning of the instrument), the theme,
and six variations with an improvisation between variations 5 and 6. The theme has
thre
MyMusicLab Resources
Automated Listening Guide: Master Musicians of the Ikuta-ryu: Cherry Blossom
Discussion Topics and Critical Thinking Questions
1. Consider Western musical forms that are transmitted orally, or by rote. What styles
Activities and Exercises
1. Assign students to bring recordings of European and North American zithers to class.
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2. Examine the connected histories of the koto, zheng, and gayageum. Have students
Journaling Prompt
Many Japanese koto pieces have titles that connect the works to nature, such as the