Edo Bayashi Agari Yatai (Wakayama Ryu) by Eien Hunter-Ishikawa

This is a shortened version of Agari Yatai, the final section of Edo Bayashi Kumikyoku, also called Hitoppayashi. The five-player ensemble consists of two shimedaiko, one odaiko, one atarigane, and one shinobue. After learning the tetsuke (book) parts, we learn Level 2 phrases for each instrument, and then graduate to playing more freely, as I have done here. Transcribing music played by Wakayama Shachu members has been indispensable in advancing my study of Edo Bayashi. The taiko are provided by Miyamoto Unosuke Shoten. Shinobue is Hosei. Atarigane is 5.5 betsubiki played with a Marukuma Edo Bayashi shumoku.
In a July 2002 interview, Wakayama Taneo sensei provided valuable words of wisdom:
"For us, the order of difficulty is first kane, second fue, third taiko. The kane is very articulate, so hearing it played poorly makes your head buckle. The kane is also called yosuke because in the five-person ensemble, it rescues the four other players, and yet it must not be a nuisance."
"Matsuri Bayashi is music, so the rhythm is essential. It depends on the piece, but the fue should not trickle along. It needs to have some bite, a sharpness, just like jazz."
"Seeing Takara sensei (Takara Sanzaemon) performing beautifully makes me want to play the fue like him, but it's not possible to copy his style. Therefore I believe I need to express my own style that only I possess."
The interview, in Japanese, is included in the book "Shinobue Workshop" by Murayama Jiro.
Eien Hunter-Ishikawa
www.eienhunterishikawa.com