The ("Koma flute") is a transverse

bamboo flute The bamboo flute, especially the bone flute, is one of the oldest musical instruments known. Examples of Paleolithic flutes, Paleolithic bone flutes have survived for more than 40,000 years, to be discovered by archaeologists. While the oldest f ...

, a fue that is used in traditional Japanese court music.

Construction

The ''komabue'' is typically constructed from bamboo. It is a transverse flute with six finger-holes. It is 36 cm, shorter than the '' ryuteki'' flute.

Use

The ''komabue'' is used in both

Gagaku is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794–1185) arou ...

and Komagaku. Historically the Oga family of musicians in Japan specialized in the ''komabue''.Marett,A. Musica Asiatica Vol. 5 Published by CUP Archive, p.210

References

{{Traditional Japanese musical instruments Side-blown flutes Gagaku Japanese musical instruments Bamboo flutes