Ancient harp

A replica of an ancient harp called kugo is used to play "Archaic Phrase" by Kikuko Masumoto. The harpist is Tomoko Sugawara

Category:

Music

Tags:

• kugo
• harp
• instrument
• ancient
• music
• classical

[dbadagna]

This is excellent. Are there any videos of her playing on the Japanese kugo (ancient Japanese harp derived from the Chinese konghou)?

[klinte]

This IS a kugo. In other countries this harp had different names. In ancient China it was called konghou; in ancient Turkey it was the chang; in ancient Greece the trigonon. This type of harp was played widely in ancient Asia.

[rakkav]

This harp is just about identical in form to Mesopotamian harps of high antiquity (Sumerian, Elamite) and not too far distant from some ancient Egyptian harps. I never knew that a harp of this kind survived so long, let alone that anyone made a replica of one. This is not only a beautiful, but a valuable recording!

[klinte]

The Sumerians did not know this type of harp but the the Elamites did. The angular harp died out about 1700 CE, and one of the last was shown in Istanbul. The instrument played here is a replica of an instrument played on the Silk Road, ca. 600 CE. (Bo Lawergren).

[Gealach74]

very interesting!

...in wich key is this harp normally tuned?

does it has gut strings?

thanks

[klinte]

The harpist can tune it to any key she wants. She simply turns tuning keys. This replica has gut strings, but the Chinese kugo may have had silk strings -- but nothing survives. (Bo Lawergren)

[John6verse47]

1 John 5:3

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.

[TSarangLove]

@TSarangLove there is a good book called "empires of the silk road" by christopher beckwith, and in parts of the 5th(i believe, maybe the 6th) chapter it talks about this cultural exchange into the T'ang dynasty through Central Asia. ample foot notes and references as well. this is a beautiful instrument and performance!

[TSarangLove]

@leftysergeant well if anything i also believe there is a lesson on how connected many ancient civilizations were compared to modern beliefs, around the beginning of the 8th century most of the great civilizations across eurasia and northern africa were coming into direct (military) contact which also led to flourishing of new ideas and art. I believe that this instrument arrived (or at least became popular) in China at this time, (Tang) through the Tarim Basin, completely changing Chinese music

[ashiwaraouji]

中国のんと比べるとなんか音が硬いなあ～

まあこっちは断絶があるししゃあないか

これから改良されていくことを期待

[kpskfi]

This is very similar to "ceng", an old turkish instrument.

[leftysergeant]

@klinte There are several East Asian harps that strongly resemble Mesopotamian harps of other types. They seem to have spread from Mesopotamia to China and as far as Cameroon to the west. The most widely-played of these is the adungu of the Baganda and Acholi peoples of Uganda.

I'm sure there is a lesson in there somewhere about how little difference there is in the human ability to create and appreciate art.

[ibanezxiphos700]

sounds like a koto

[acrovis]

Wow !