Thursday, June 18, 2009

A Shamisen Musical Break and TJL


Today's Japanese Lesson.

Traditionally, shamisen players don't look at their hands.

In Japanese, this would be:

伝統的に、三味線奏者は 演奏するときに 自分の手を見ません。

The furigana would be:

でんとうてきに、しゃみせんそうしゃは えんそうするときに じぶんのてをみません。

And the transliteration (romaji) is:

dento tekini shamisen sosha ha enso suru tokini jibun no te o mimasen.

The words are:

Traditionally (伝統的に); shamisen players (三味線奏者); don't look at their hands (自分の手を見ません); look (見ません) - and in Japanese the phrase 'when playing' is added - when playing (演奏するときに); when (ときに).


You can watch a shamisen player in the video below. Notice, if you will, that he never looks at his left hand as he plays. 伝統的に、三味線奏者は演奏するときに自分の手を見ません。Mr. Morinaga, while he is dressed non-traditionally in t-shirt, jeans, and cool glasses, nevertheless continues the no-look shamisen tradition. Enjoy.




Motoki Morinaga - Tsugaru shamisen from ale/pepino on Vimeo.


(Finally, and secretly, what is this > Video? You may have seen it before.)

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