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What instruments are used in a traditional Japanese sankyoku ensemble?
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A traditional Japanese sankyoku ensemble is a form of chamber music that typically features three primary instruments:12
- Koto: A 13-stringed zither with movable bridges, which is often played by a performer who also sings.13
- Samisen: A three-stringed plucked lute.12
- Shakuhachi: An end-blown bamboo flute.12
While this trio represents the standard modern instrumentation, historical versions of the ensemble sometimes utilized the kokyū, a bowed variant of the samisen, in place of the flute. The term sankyoku literally translates to "music for three," and the ensemble is noted for its chamber music sound ideal, where the distinct timbre of each instrument remains clearly audible.12