The , or Nagoya harp, is a Japanese stringed
musical instrument
A musical instrument is a device created or adapted to make Music, musical sounds. In principle, any object that produces sound can be considered a musical instrument—it is through purpose that the object becomes a musical instrument. A person ...
. The name derives from the
Taishō period (1912–1926) when the instrument first appeared. It has also become naturalized in East Africa, often under the name ''Taishokoto''. It is essentially a Keyboard
Psalmodikon with multiple strings.
There are 4 types available: soprano has 5 or 6 strings, alto has 4 or 5 strings, tenor and bass have 1 or 2 strings.
History
The ''Taishōgoto'' was developed in 1912 by the musician Gorō Morita in
Nagoya
is the largest city in the Chūbu region of Japan. It is the list of cities in Japan, fourth-most populous city in Japan, with a population of 2.3million in 2020, and the principal city of the Chūkyō metropolitan area, which is the List of ...
. He came up with the idea of combining the mechanics of a typewriter with an instrument.
The ''taishōgoto'' bears a close resemblance to the ''
bulbul tarang'' from
India
India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...
, ''
benju
A Benju, Benjo (Sindhi language, Sindhi, Balochi language, Balochi: بینجو) is a type of zither fitted with a Keyboard instrument, keyboard, commonly used in the Sindhi music and Balochi Music, Balochi music.
The Benju holds a significan ...
'' from
Pakistan
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by population, fifth-most populous country, with a population of over 241.5 million, having the Islam by country# ...
, and the
akkordolia from Germany, all sharing the same principle of using keys to press down on strings to change their pitch. It also bears some resemblance to the Swedish
nyckelharpa
''Nyckelharpa'' (, roughly "keyed fiddle" in Swedish language, Swedish, , plural: ) is a "keyed" Bowed string instrument, bowed chordophone, primarily originating from Sweden in its modern form, but with its historical roots scattered across med ...
for the same reason, although the action and the method of playing the strings is very different.
The instrument was used by
Krautrock
Krautrock (also called , German for ) is a broad genre of experimental rock that developed in Germany in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It originated among artists who blended elements of psychedelic rock, avant-garde composition, and electron ...
band
Neu!
Neu! (; German for "New!"; styled in block capitals) were a West German krautrock band formed in Düsseldorf in 1971 by Klaus Dinger and Michael Rother following their departure from Kraftwerk. The group's albums were produced by Conny Plank, w ...
on its
first album in 1972, as well as by
Harmonia
In Greek mythology, Harmonia (; /Ancient Greek phonology, harmoˈnia/, "harmony", "agreement") is the goddess of harmony and concord. Her Greek opposite is Eris (mythology), Eris and her Roman mythology, Roman counterpart is Concordia (mythol ...
.
The song "Big Ideas" by
Arctic Monkeys
Arctic Monkeys are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Sheffield in 2002. They comprise lead singer Alex Turner, drummer Matt Helders, guitarist Jamie Cook and bassist Nick O'Malley. The co-founder and original bassist Andy Nicholson ...
features a ''taishōgoto'' solo.
References
External links
Bulbul Tarang of India
{{DEFAULTSORT:Taishogoto
Typewriter zithers
Japanese musical instruments
Culture in Nagoya
East African musical instruments