The ("Koma flute") is a

transverse Transverse may refer to: *Transverse engine, an engine in which the crankshaft is oriented side-to-side relative to the wheels of the vehicle *Transverse flute, a flute that is held horizontally * Transverse force (or ''Euler force''), the tangen ...

bamboo flute The bamboo flute, especially the bone flute, is one of the oldest musical instruments known. Examples of Paleolithic bone flutes have survived for more than 40,000 years, to be discovered by archaeologists. While the oldest flutes currently kno ...

, a fue that is used in traditional Japanese court music.

Construction

The ''komabue'' is typically constructed from bamboo. It is a transverse flute with six finger-holes. It is 36 cm, shorter than the '' ryuteki'' flute.

Use

The ''komabue'' is used in both

Gagaku is a type of Japanese classical music that was historically used for imperial court music and dances. was developed as court music of the Kyoto Imperial Palace, and its near-current form was established in the Heian period (794-1185) around t ...

and

Komagaku ''Komagaku'' ( 高麗楽) is a form of Gagaku (traditional Japanese court music) form arranged in the Heian period mainly based on Koguryeo music and sankangaku (the music of the Three Kingdoms of Korea and is often played as a dance accompaniment ...

. Historically the Oga family of musicians in Japan specialized in the ''komabue''.Marett,A. Musica Asiatica Vol. 5 Published by CUP Archive, p.210

References

{{Traditional Japanese musical instruments Side-blown flutes Gagaku Japanese musical instruments Bamboo flutes