Ryūteki

{{Short description|Japanese flute}} {{More citations needed|date=April 2021}} {{Italic title|reason=:Category:Japanese words and phrases}} [[Image:Ryuteki_player_by_Ken@Okinawa_in_Kamakura,_Kanagawa.jpg|thumb|A Japanese ryūteki player in Kamakura, Kanagawa]] [[Image:Ryuteki.jpeg|48px|thumb|right|A traditional ''ryūteki fue'']]

The {{nihongo|'''''ryūteki'''''|龍笛||extra=literally "dragon flute"}} is a Japanese transverse ''fue'' made of bamboo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.musicaparaver.org/instru.asp?id_org1=4&id_geo1=3&o1=0&o2=0&o3=0&g1=0&g2=0&g3=0&atal=2&id_instr=232&orri=1&nondik=&zeinstr=12&guztira=21&hizk=2|title=Instrumentos del mundo: Ryuteki|access-date=11 November 2017|language=es|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171201032802/http://www.musicaparaver.org/instru.asp?id_org1=4&id_geo1=3&o1=0&o2=0&o3=0&g1=0&g2=0&g3=0&atal=2&id_instr=232&orri=1&nondik=&zeinstr=12&guztira=21&hizk=2|archive-date=1 December 2017}}</ref> It is used in gagaku, the Shinto classical music associated with Japan's imperial court. The sound of the ''ryūteki'' is said to represent the dragons which ascend the skies between the heavenly lights (represented by the ''shō'') and the people of the earth (represented by the ''hichiriki''). The ryūteki is one of the three flutes used in gagaku, in particular to play songs of Chinese style. The pitch is lower than that of the ''komabue'' and higher than that of the ''kagurabue''.

The ''ryūteki'' is held horizontally, has seven holes, and has a length of {{convert|40|cm|ftin}} and an inner diameter of {{convert|1.3|cm|in|frac=2}}. Unlike the western flute, the holes are not covered by the fingertips, rather, the fleshy part of the finger is used.{{Clarify|date=August 2019|reason=Western flute technique also uses the fleshy part of the finger's end joint, not the tip of the finger. Does this mean that the *second* joint is used on the ryuteki?}} This allows for better control of "half-holing" techniques and chromatic notes, by simply raising the finger slightly above the holes.

Hans Werner Henze calls for this instrument for his ''El Cimarrón'', and Karlheinz Stockhausen scored for ''ryūteki'' in the original Gagaku-ensemble version of ''Jahreslauf'' (act 1 of the opera ''Dienstag aus Licht'').

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ryuteki}} Category:Gagaku Category:Japanese musical instruments Category:Side-blown flutes Category:Seven tone hole wind instruments Category:Sacred musical instruments