The northern area of Japan known as Tsugaru (Aomori prefecture) has for over a century been the home of a unique music for the shamisen, a three-stringed lute played with a large plectrum. This music, known as Tsugaru-jamisen (or Tsugaru shamisen) was developed and performed by blind, itinerant men, of whom the best known was Takahashi Chikuzan. This volume presents a detailed, historically informed introduction to Tsugaru-jamisen, its performers, and their social background as well as a full, annotated translation of Chikuzan's classic autobiography. The new edition includes much historical information not available at the time of previous editions (1991, 1999), corrects earlier errors, and brings the history of Tsugaru-jamisen up to date.
25年にわたる徹底的な史資料の調査と現地調査によって実現した、津軽三味線の音楽と演奏者をめぐる総合研究。また、著書の後半は高橋竹山『津軽三味線ひとり旅』の英訳。津軽に活躍した盲人とその社会的背景を歴史的に明らかにするとともに、津軽三味線のルーツ、津軽の三味線音楽の発展を多角的に分析し、津軽三味線の知られざる世界をこれまでになく明確に描き出す。

Gerald Groemer is professor of Japanese music history and ethnomusicology at University of Yamanashi in Kofu Japan. He is the author of numerous books and articles about traditional Japanese folk and popular music. In 1995 and 2007 his books were awarded the "Tanabe Prize," the most prestigious Japanese prize for studies of Asian music. In 2008 he was also awarded the Koizumi Fumio Prize for his work on Japanese itinerant musicians.
1957年アメリカ合衆国オレゴン州に生まれる。1985年ジョンズ・ホプキンズ大学ピーボディ音楽院博士課程修了・音楽博士。1993年東京芸術大学大学院音楽研究科博士課程修了。芸術博士(音楽学)。江戸東京博物館専門研究員。1994年Earlham College(Richmond,Indiana,USA)助教授。山梨大学教育人間科学部教授。著書『幕末のはやり唄』(名著出版、1995年)と『瞽女と瞽女唄の研究』(名古屋大学出版会、2007年)二度にわたり東洋音楽学会田辺賞受賞、加えて2008年には小泉文夫音楽賞受賞。