Lute, samisen

This lute or samisen is played with a plectrum. The hollow frame of wood has cat skin stretched across the back and front of the sound box. The skin is reinforced under the strings so that it is not broken by the blows from the plectrum.

The three strings of this samisen are made of twisted silk. The strings are tensioned by the tuning pegs, itomaki. The plectrum or bachi used for practice is made of wood. That used for performances is made of ivory.

Samisen were used as an accompaniment to a story teller in puppet theatre, bunraku. The music intensifies the drama of the story. Geisha, have played the samisen at banquets, to accompany singing and dancing.

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