HICHIRIKI

a Japanese short, double-reed aerophone (wind instrument) used in ancient court music and surviving in the gagaku, or courtly music, tradition. It is derived from earlier continental Asian models. The present Japanese form is about 7 inches (18 cm) in length and has seven top finger holes and two thumbholes underneath. It is made of internally lacquered bamboo and wrapped with bands of cherry or wisteria bark between the finger holes. The reed (shita), being broad and thick, is placed in a widened end of the pipe, thus giving the hichiriki an external conical shape, although the pipe is cylindrical. The use of a loose but controlled embouchure (lip position) and delicate finger movement help to create its rich, fluid melodic style.