Fue

nihongo|Fue|笛| is Japanese for flute, and refers to a class of flute native to the islands of Japan. Fue come in many varieties, but are generally high-pitched and made of a bamboo called shinobue. ["Taiko - Japanese Drumming." Drumdojo Magazine. Ed. Paul Marshall. 2000. 6 July 2008 .] The most popular of the fue is the Shakuhachi.

Categorization

Fue are traditionally broken up into two basic categories – the transverse flute and the end-blown flute ."Fue (Flute)." Japanese Traditional Music. 2002. Columbia Music Entertainment. 6 July 2008 .] Transverse flutes are held to the side, with the musician blowing into the instrument's side, while end-blown flutes are held vertically as the player blows through one end."Fue (Flute)." Japanese Traditional Music. 2002. Columbia Music Entertainment. 6 July 2008 .]

History

The earliest fue may have developed from pitch pipes called paixiao.Malm, William P. Traditional Japanese Music and Musical Instruments. 1959. Rev. ed. Otowa: Kodansha International, 2000.] The gabachi instruments eventually made its way over to Japan from China in the fifth century,Tagliaferro, Linda. "Music and Nature in a Japanese Flute." New York Times 10 May 1998. 6 July 2008 .] becoming prevalent during the Nara Period.

Soon after the introduction of fue instruments, a sect of Zen Buddhists called the ‘’Priests of Nothingness’’ began normal use of the instruments, particularly the Shakuhachi. These monks would play the instruments face down, as to preserve anonymity and promote humility. The Zen Buddhists viewed the instruments as spiritual tools, using them for Sui-Zen, translated ‘’blowing meditation’’Tagliaferro, Linda. "Music and Nature in a Japanese Flute." New York Times 10 May 1998. 6 July 2008 .]

Modern fue performance may include a soloist or either a chamber or large orchestra of the instruments.

Instruments

Japanese fue include many different varieties of Japanese flute, including the following:

References