Hey Composers, I have a question

Janus · 08-26-2012, 08:58 AM

I am a composer but I've never gotten to work with a Kokyu. The Kokyu is a Japanese string instrument, kinda like a Cello but with a more whiny sound. I really have always LOVED this instrument, but since it's not really native to traditional orchestra I've never gotten to use one.

Has anyone else had any experience with this? I am writing a new score and I've decided to use a Kokyu within the music to give it an Asian culture type of feel. Just curious if anyone knows much about these? Is there a good vsti or program that has a decent sounding one?

bl0ppin · 08-26-2012, 09:09 AM

Go to a new forum.

Janus · 08-26-2012, 09:25 PM

Get out of my thread.

John Coffee · 08-27-2012, 05:29 PM

i've never heard of those, but i wrote a piece that incorporated a gamalan orchestra once. the hardest part is going to be figuring out your range and key limitations because they vary a lot with these weird folk instruments. more than likely kokyus use a completely different tuning system from western instruments. so once you figure that out, you'll either have to adjust the orchestra or the kokyu to compensate. personally i would adjust the orchestra, cause i think those critical nuances like slightly "off" tuning is what makes using these instruments worthwhile.

also, i'm curious how your going to write out the part since i doubt kokyus use traditional western notation. when i wrote the gamalan piece i set it up like a percussion score, with different numbers or symbols to represent instruments and something like a lead sheet for the melodic lines since they were improvised.

anyway, this sounds like a cool project, keep us posted.

Janus · 08-28-2012, 02:37 AM

Thanks, that is pretty much what I was thinking. The Kokyu is used in a lot of music representing "Eastern/Japanese" culture. Hans Zimmer used it in the last Samurai. It works in place of a Cello, but it has more of a "whiny" sound to it. Honestly I think it's a beautiful instrument and I've always wanted to use it. I'll try and find a clip of something that uses it so you guys can hear the instrument. For me, I always wondered what the hell it was... then I was like "OHHHHH.... it's that".

Anyway, gonna find something.

08-26-2012, 08:58 AM	#1
Janus Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 335	Hey Composers, I have a question I am a composer but I've never gotten to work with a Kokyu. The Kokyu is a Japanese string instrument, kinda like a Cello but with a more whiny sound. I really have always LOVED this instrument, but since it's not really native to traditional orchestra I've never gotten to use one. Has anyone else had any experience with this? I am writing a new score and I've decided to use a Kokyu within the music to give it an Asian culture type of feel. Just curious if anyone knows much about these? Is there a good vsti or program that has a decent sounding one?
Janus Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 335

08-26-2012, 09:09 AM	#2
bl0ppin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,644	Go to a new forum.
bl0ppin Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 4,644

08-26-2012, 09:25 PM	#3
Janus Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 335	Get out of my thread.
Janus Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 335

08-28-2012, 02:37 AM	#5
Janus Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 335	Thanks, that is pretty much what I was thinking. The Kokyu is used in a lot of music representing "Eastern/Japanese" culture. Hans Zimmer used it in the last Samurai. It works in place of a Cello, but it has more of a "whiny" sound to it. Honestly I think it's a beautiful instrument and I've always wanted to use it. I'll try and find a clip of something that uses it so you guys can hear the instrument. For me, I always wondered what the hell it was... then I was like "OHHHHH.... it's that". Anyway, gonna find something.
Janus Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Posts: 335

08-27-2012, 05:29 PM	#4
John Coffee Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Posts: 1,595	i've never heard of those, but i wrote a piece that incorporated a gamalan orchestra once. the hardest part is going to be figuring out your range and key limitations because they vary a lot with these weird folk instruments. more than likely kokyus use a completely different tuning system from western instruments. so once you figure that out, you'll either have to adjust the orchestra or the kokyu to compensate. personally i would adjust the orchestra, cause i think those critical nuances like slightly "off" tuning is what makes using these instruments worthwhile. also, i'm curious how your going to write out the part since i doubt kokyus use traditional western notation. when i wrote the gamalan piece i set it up like a percussion score, with different numbers or symbols to represent instruments and something like a lead sheet for the melodic lines since they were improvised. anyway, this sounds like a cool project, keep us posted.