Ainu percussion instruments

Abstract

Ainu people are the indigenous inhabitants of Sakhalin, the Kuril Islands, and Hokkaido. This work aimed to study Russian and Japanese museum funds, analyze musical transcripts performed by the author, and review Russian and Japanese academic literature. The article deals with the percussion musical and sound instruments of the Ainu – idiophones and membranophones. The term “sound instrument” refers to archaic sound instruments that were not usually perceived as musical. They were considered as such only at the moment of their sounding. The author pays special attention to poorly studied instruments, such as a sonic log, sticks, a board, a lacquered barrel lid, rattles, bells, a shaman tambourine, and a beater. The article analyzes the etymology of the names of instruments, structure, material of manufacture, techniques of playing. Most of the Ainu tools were made of wood and had a simple design. Percussion instruments are multifunctional. On the one hand, they performed a musical function – they rhythmically organized a song or recitation. They sounded during the performance of epic legends, various songs. On the other hand, instruments were sacred objects. The author traces their close connection with the worldview, mythological ideas of the ancient people. All of them were associated with the ritual practice: they were used in shamanic rituals, bear holidays, magic actions. Their sounding was thought to provide communication with the spirit world.