Currently all of the soundfiles in  /_s_f_l_i_b/_j_a_p_a_n  are  mono-
phonic plucked chordophone samples extracted by Kevin Ernste
from the _W_e_l_c_o_m_e _t_o _J_a_p_a_n compact disc. A DAT copy  of  this
cd,  available  in  the ECMC DAT Tape Library, contains many
additional Japanese sound samples, although  most  of  these
are phrases rather than isolated single tones.

Here is a summary of the current contents of /_s_f_l_i_b/_j_a_p_a_n:

Duration   Soundfile        Comments
           GIDAYU :         -------------
 1.063     gidayu.2tone     chordal strum, c4 - Bf3
 4.485     gidayu.chop      voice into g4
 3.905     gidayu.cresc     voice -> f3
 3.457     gidayu.g2        buzzy
 3.202     gidayu.g3        buzzy
 5.219     gidayu.gliss     c3 - d3
 4.078     gidayu.gliss2    also c3 - d3 very similar
 4.88      gidayu.pluck     g2
 2.758     gidayu.snap      f3, fast wide vibrato
 0.813     gidayu.snap2     f4 -> g4
 3.807     gidayu.tune      d4 -> c4
 1.773     gidayu.twang     (f4) -> g4
           JIUTA            -------------
 3.496     jiuta.d3         buzzy
 3.474     jiuta.d4         sharp attack
 3.487     jiuta.g3         also d3
 1.275     jiuta.grace      bf3 -> c4
 2.831     jiuta.grace8va   bf4 -> c5
 4.186     jiuta.turn       c4 -> d4
           KOKYU            -------------
 9.697     kokyu.c5         long, bowed, airy
 1.512     kokyu.long       gliss down into long tremolo on ef5
 1.068     kokyu.pluck      c5  short
 5.713     kokyu.slide      g4 -> a4 ponticello quality (almost sounds 8va)
           KOTO             -------------
                          None of the koto soundfiles include pitch slides.
 2.132     koto.d3          contains some clicks
 2.093     koto.g3          thin
 2.276     koto.a3          sharper attack than g3
 2.263     koto.bf3         also sharp attack, quick decay
 2.105     koto.d4           ditto
 1.971     koto.ef4          ditto
 1.91      koto.g4           ditto

                     December 23, 1998

