HDF2-photos1 - SHO TUNING photos Tadamaro 8-1987

Full description

The Director of the Imperial Court Gagaku Ensemble, ONO Tadamaro, preparing and applying substances needed to tune the reeds of the free-reed aerophone, sho. 1. cover of photo album 2a. shot showing how to hold an individual pipe when removing or attaching a reed b. Tadamaro holding a single reed while scraping off old coating from its surface using a razor blade 3a full set of pipes with their reeds removed b. reeds laid out in order on a rack, with 2 paint brushes at the right c. a full set of reeds on rear rack, and 5 reeds on front rack d. antique brass bowl in which substance to be painted onto reeds will be mixed 4a. Tadamaro rubbing a copper stone (?) in water inside the brass bowl b. assistant showing how to hold the stone c. rubbing the stone in shallow water again d. fine paintbrush lying across top of the bowl, with stone and eye dropper behind 5a. painting the mixture onto the reed - facing view b. 2 reeds drying, showing contrast in colour with unpainted reeds on rack c. Tadamaro painting mixture onto one of the reeds - view from his side d. the electronic "gagaku tuner" device then available; it included pitches for each of the reeds. Language as given: Japanese