| The ''kutu'' is the Okinawan name for the 13-string zither called ''[[koto]]'' in Japanese. It is the only major example of a Japanese instrument being adopted into the repertoire of Okinawan classical music. | | The ''kutu'' is the Okinawan name for the 13-string zither called ''[[koto]]'' in Japanese. It is the only major example of a Japanese instrument being adopted into the repertoire of Okinawan classical music. |
| The ''kutu'' as it is used in Okinawan music is physically identical to the Japanese ''koto'', but is simply tuned differently. It is most commonly played as accompaniment to the [[sanshin]], sometimes, traditionally, alongside the ''kûchô'' (the Okinawan version of the ''[[kokyu (instrument)|kokyû]]'' fiddle). However, there is also a small repertoire of solo Okinawan ''kutu'' songs, mainly ''danmono'' pieces in the style of the [[Yatsuhashi school]] of Japanese ''koto'', along with several other Japanese ''koto'' pieces of unclear origin. One of the most common pieces in this solo repertoire, also commonly played on classical ''sanshin'', is a ''danmono'' piece entitled ''Watarizô-Tachiutushi''. | | The ''kutu'' as it is used in Okinawan music is physically identical to the Japanese ''koto'', but is simply tuned differently. It is most commonly played as accompaniment to the [[sanshin]], sometimes, traditionally, alongside the ''kûchô'' (the Okinawan version of the ''[[kokyu (instrument)|kokyû]]'' fiddle). However, there is also a small repertoire of solo Okinawan ''kutu'' songs, mainly ''danmono'' pieces in the style of the [[Yatsuhashi school]] of Japanese ''koto'', along with several other Japanese ''koto'' pieces of unclear origin. One of the most common pieces in this solo repertoire, also commonly played on classical ''sanshin'', is a ''danmono'' piece entitled ''Watarizô-Tachiutushi''. |