Taishōgoto

The taishōgoto (大正琴), or Nagoya harp, is a Japanese stringed musical instrument. The name derives from the Taishō period (1912–1926) when the instrument first appeared. It has also become naturalized in East Africa, often under the name Taishokoto.[1]

Taishōgoto, also known as Nagoya harp

History
the shoulder strapped model named SHOULDER-HARP

The Taishōgoto was developed in 1912 by the musician Gorō Morita in Nagoya. He came up with the idea of combining the mechanics of a typewriter with an instrument.

The taishōgoto bears a close resemblance to the bulbul tarang from India, and the akkordolia from Germany, all sharing the same principle of using keys to press down on strings to change their pitch. It also bears some resemblance to the Swedish nyckelharpa for the same reason although the action and the method of playing the strings is very different.

The instrument was used by Krautrock band Neu! on its first album in 1972, and also by Harmonia which formed in 1973.[2]

British band Arctic Monkeys feature a taishōgoto solo on the song "Big Ideas" from their 2023 album The Car, performed by producer James Ford.

References
  2. Albiez, Sean; Pattie, David (January 2011). Kraftwerk: Music Non-Stop. New York: Continuum. p. 143. ISBN 978-1-4411-9136-6.

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