Goshu ondo
Encyclopedia
The is a type of ondo (music)
, a traditional Japanese dance song. It originated in Shiga Prefecture
which was formerly known as Gōshū
. It is believed to have been perfected around the Meiji Era.
in that the structure of the tune is quite fluid. There are no set lyrics, the themes used in the song vary from region to region, and the song's structure is variable. There is only a set theme which performers can improvise on, and a returning chorus which is sung back by singers, and/or the audience.
The returning chorus is sung in pitched notes, but the singers consider this a kakegoe
. Said to have evolved from a religious song game, the song incorporates a lot of call-and-response, where listeners who know the song are encouraged to participate shouting back kakegoe
.
The tune of Goshu Ondo can be used to tell stories, or talk about current events. There is even a version of Goshu Ondo that names all the prefectures and capitals in Japan. The staple instruments are always a taiko
drum and a stringed instrument, be it an electric guitar
or a shamisen
, though the song can be sung with just the drum alone.
in Goshu Ondo is:
"Sorya! Yoito yoiyamakka dokkoisa no se."
known as "Kawachi." It is said that Goshu Ondo was the prototype for the song Kawachi Ondo
, which is sung in that part of Japan; both of these songs are often sung alongside each other in that region. The songs share a lot of the same instrumentation, form and kakegoe
.
こりゃ どっこいしょ！
ええ 皆様 頼みます
ああ これから よいやせ この掛け声を
えんさては この場の 皆さんへ
Romaji:
Korya dokkoisho!
Ee minasama tanomimasu
Aa korekara yoiyase kono kakegoe wo
En sate wa kono ba no minasan he
Translation:
With a whoa heave ho!
Alright, everyone, I'm asking you
Alright, let's begin, sing this kakegoe
back to me
Alright, everyone, listen what I gotta say
Ondo (music)
is a type of Japanese folk music genre.- Etymology and description:The literal translation of "ondo" is "sound head." Kanji, or the Chinese characters used in the Japanese language, often have literal and abstract meanings, here the kanji for "sound" having a more abstract meaning of "melody" or...
, a traditional Japanese dance song. It originated in Shiga Prefecture
Shiga Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan, which forms part of the Kansai region on Honshu Island. The capital is the city of Ōtsu.- History :Shiga was known as Ōmi Province or Gōshū before the prefectural system was established...
which was formerly known as Gōshū
Omi Province
is an old province of Japan, which today comprises Shiga Prefecture. It was one of the provinces that made up the Tōsandō circuit. It is nicknamed as .Lake Biwa, Japan's largest lake, is located at the center of the province...
. It is believed to have been perfected around the Meiji Era.
Form
Goshu ondo is a lot like Kawachi OndoKawachi ondo
Kawachi Ondo is a kind of Japanese folk song that originates from Yao City in the old Kawachi region of Japan, now part of modern-day Osaka Prefecture. This song's style and melody are said to have evolved from another folk song called Gōshū Ondo from Shiga Prefecture, known as Goshu in earlier days...
in that the structure of the tune is quite fluid. There are no set lyrics, the themes used in the song vary from region to region, and the song's structure is variable. There is only a set theme which performers can improvise on, and a returning chorus which is sung back by singers, and/or the audience.
The returning chorus is sung in pitched notes, but the singers consider this a kakegoe
Kakegoe
Kakegoe can be literally translated as "hung voice" or "a voice you hang." The "hanging" part is probably meant to be taken in an abstract sense to mean "ornament" or "decoration," as it is the same Japanese verb used when talk about kakemono. Kakegoe, therefore, refers to an auxiliary pitched or...
. Said to have evolved from a religious song game, the song incorporates a lot of call-and-response, where listeners who know the song are encouraged to participate shouting back kakegoe
Kakegoe
Kakegoe can be literally translated as "hung voice" or "a voice you hang." The "hanging" part is probably meant to be taken in an abstract sense to mean "ornament" or "decoration," as it is the same Japanese verb used when talk about kakemono. Kakegoe, therefore, refers to an auxiliary pitched or...
.
The tune of Goshu Ondo can be used to tell stories, or talk about current events. There is even a version of Goshu Ondo that names all the prefectures and capitals in Japan. The staple instruments are always a taiko
Taiko
means "drum" in Japanese . Outside Japan, the word is often used to refer to any of the various Japanese drums and to the relatively recent art-form of ensemble taiko drumming...
drum and a stringed instrument, be it an electric guitar
Electric guitar
An electric guitar is a guitar that uses the principle of direct electromagnetic induction to convert vibrations of its metal strings into electric audio signals. The signal generated by an electric guitar is too weak to drive a loudspeaker, so it is amplified before sending it to a loudspeaker...
or a shamisen
Shamisen
The , also called is a three-stringed, Japanese musical instrument played with a plectrum called a bachi. The Japanese pronunciation is usually "shamisen" but sometimes "jamisen" when used as a suffix . -Construction:The shamisen is a plucked stringed instrument...
, though the song can be sung with just the drum alone.
Kakegoe
The returning chorus, or kakegoeKakegoe
Kakegoe can be literally translated as "hung voice" or "a voice you hang." The "hanging" part is probably meant to be taken in an abstract sense to mean "ornament" or "decoration," as it is the same Japanese verb used when talk about kakemono. Kakegoe, therefore, refers to an auxiliary pitched or...
in Goshu Ondo is:
"Sorya! Yoito yoiyamakka dokkoisa no se."
Goshu Ondo Imported
The song originates in Shiga prefecture, however, it was imported to a part of Northern OsakaOsaka
is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe...
known as "Kawachi." It is said that Goshu Ondo was the prototype for the song Kawachi Ondo
Kawachi ondo
Kawachi Ondo is a kind of Japanese folk song that originates from Yao City in the old Kawachi region of Japan, now part of modern-day Osaka Prefecture. This song's style and melody are said to have evolved from another folk song called Gōshū Ondo from Shiga Prefecture, known as Goshu in earlier days...
, which is sung in that part of Japan; both of these songs are often sung alongside each other in that region. The songs share a lot of the same instrumentation, form and kakegoe
Kakegoe
Kakegoe can be literally translated as "hung voice" or "a voice you hang." The "hanging" part is probably meant to be taken in an abstract sense to mean "ornament" or "decoration," as it is the same Japanese verb used when talk about kakemono. Kakegoe, therefore, refers to an auxiliary pitched or...
.
Excerpt
Japanese:こりゃ どっこいしょ！
- えんや なんじゃいな！
ええ 皆様 頼みます
- は えんや こらせ どっこいせ！
ああ これから よいやせ この掛け声を
- そりゃ よいと よいやまっか どっこいさのせ
えんさては この場の 皆さんへ
- あらどしたい
Romaji:
Korya dokkoisho!
- Enya nanjaina!
Ee minasama tanomimasu
- Ha enya korase dokkoise!
Aa korekara yoiyase kono kakegoe wo
- Sorya yoito yoiyamakka dokkoisa no se!
En sate wa kono ba no minasan he
- Ara doshtai!
Translation:
With a whoa heave ho!
- Alright, whatcha want?
Alright, everyone, I'm asking you
- Alright, come now, don't hold back
Alright, let's begin, sing this kakegoe
Kakegoe
Kakegoe can be literally translated as "hung voice" or "a voice you hang." The "hanging" part is probably meant to be taken in an abstract sense to mean "ornament" or "decoration," as it is the same Japanese verb used when talk about kakemono. Kakegoe, therefore, refers to an auxiliary pitched or...
back to me
- Sorya yoito yoiyamakka dokkoisa no se!
Alright, everyone, listen what I gotta say
- Oh, what's wrong?