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What is a danmono in koto solo music?
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Japanese music
Courtesan playing a samisen, Japanese woodcut print.
In the context of Japanese koto music, danmono refers to a specific genre of solo instrumental music, also known as shirabemono.1
It is characterized as a variation piece composed of several sections, each referred to as a dan. In the classical tradition, these sections are typically 104 beats in length. Along with chamber music (sankyoku), danmono constitutes a dominant part of the koto repertoire.12