Kengyō Yamada

Background

Kengyō Yamada was born in 1757 in Edo, Japan. The son of a Noh player of the Hosho school.

Education

He studied under Hasetomi Kengyo and Sho­koku Matsuda, who were famous composers. With their help, the boy mastered the secrets of Ikuta school and then founded his own Yamada school of koto music. It quickly spread throughout the Kanto District. Also, Kengyō Yamada was known for his sweet voice.

Career

In 1695, Ikuta school of koto music started to develop. The name Ikuta remained as one of the primary sources of koto music until the creation of still another school by Yamada Kengyō. In present-day Japan, the Ikuta and Yamada schools remain popular, whereas the earlier traditions have faded considerably. Both schools have provided famous composers. The slightly longer and narrower shape of the Ikuta koto produces a tone easily distinguishable from that of the Yamada school.

Achievements

• Wrote koto songs based upon the Joruri tunes of Edo, bringing about a radical change in the koto music in general. Developed his own Yamada school of koto music, which remains popular and well-known up till now.
  
  

Works

More photos

• Audio, cassette

  • Classical Song Cycles

• Audio CD

  • Japanese Music (For Voice, Koto, and Shamisen) 2013

• Vinyl

  • Koto Ishikawa / Kengyo Yamada / Japan I - Sōkyoku / LP