Maxwell Museum of Anthropology - Instruments of the World
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SHO (68.59.151)
Japan
Aerophone

The sho consists of 17 bamboo pipes and a wooden wind chamber with reeds placed inside in an upright position.  It is played by blowing air into the wind chamber, while fingering holes in the pipes. 

The sho is used in the ancient court music called gagaku, which has its origins as far back as the 8th century and is derived mainly from China and Korea.  Gagaku orchestras may consist of as many as 17 musicians playing woodwinds, plucked-string and percussion instruments.

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