Connor Helms

Mt. Fuji Serenades

for 17 string
Koto Solo

Tuning at beginning of piece:

Tune to D major diatonic from the C#.

Where the bridges need moved to adjust tuning, there may not be rests in the left hand notes.
You would then need to adjust the bridge at the nearest opportunity in the measures before. It is
up to the individual performer to mark where they personally will be making these adjustments.

Oshide (left hand pressure):

This solid arrow above a note means to raise the pitch a minor second (kari)

This hollow arrow means to raise the pitch a major second (o-kari)

This asterisk means to return the string pressure to it's open position

oshiobiki/hanashi:

If only a line appears between the notes, simply apply oshide pressure until the
notated pitch is reached, then repluck the string. I will not always put in kari
arrows as it should be obvious how far the note will be raised.
If both a line and a slur appear, simply raise and/or lower the pitch without
replucking the string

Ato-Oshi:

hiki-iro:

tsuki-iro

Bend to indetermined pitch before playing the next designated note. In later passages,
the abbreviated version 'A.O.' will appear. Also take note of the glissando
line in this particular example, it shows that you are to bend up late rather than the
normal more linear approach to oshide. There are also instances of bending up early. This
applies to any and all oshide/string pressure techniques, not just ato-oshi

With left hand, tug the string to the right on the other side of the bridge, lowering
the pitch indeterminedly. Notice how the rst type on the left is more abrupt, the
second type at right being more gradual and deeper. The characters above the notes
will always appear so as to be clear as to which type is intended in each case.
Just after plucking, apply small indetermined amount of oshide pressure then quickly
return to open position. Notice the character above the notes, rather than kari arrows
and asterisks. Also notice the 'early' versus 'late' line types.

keshizume

triangle noteheads. Simply place the back of your nail on the left hand index nger underneath a string,
applying very little pressure so as to not completely mute the string. Instead, the string has slightly less
reverberation, in exchange for a buzzy timbre.

fuene/
harmonics

notice how there is both a harmonic note and another note played at the same time (which happens to be
a unison with the harmonic in this case, though not always). The diamond notehead is actually to be played
on the string an octave below this, to avoid clutter.

3
There are many things to point out here. First, this
is a technique where you tune two adjacent strings to
not quite a unison so as to achieve an audible beat of dissonance.
Notice that all voix cleste notes are an x notehead, this will not be used.
They are used here to make obvious which notes are normal. Notice the
naturalize or 'nat' box, ordering you to return the designated
strings to their default tuning as specied at the tuning key at
the top of the front page of annotations.

voix cleste:

In this instance, all C# strings that were set to voix cleste were
returned to their default pitch (1,8, and 15).
Normally, I would simply put 'nat all' if all notes are to be returned.
Notice also how the left hand does not have any notes to
play for a while, ensuring plenty of time to return the bridges
to their default places

oshiawase:

In this case, pluck string 13 (G) and quickly after pluck string 14
(F#). While doing this, raise string 13 up to the same pitch as 14,
in this instance a kari oshide.

chirashizume:

The rst is a normal scrape using the side of the plectrum. The
second is with the top of the plectrum. The third is a back and
forth left-right gesture on the ssame string.

surizume:

plectrum scrape on two strings, using index and middle ngers. can
either be tremolo'd back and forth, or slowly dragged all the way across
the strings. I will usually not specify which type, it's up to the performer.

uchizume:

solid upside down triangle above note, slap the strings with face of tsume

uchikaki:

plucking positions:

sukizume and kozume

Glissandi plectrum scrapes of multiple strings. In this case, the right hand takes
just as long as scraping both the C# (8) and E (10) as evidenced by the
rhythmic values notated.

N.R., O.R., P.O.

The location of the tsume are sometimes specied in order to achieve a desired
timbre. N.R. stands for 'near ryukaku', slightly closer to the ryukaku than P.O.,
'ordinary position' (which is roughly 1/8 of the length from the bridge to the
ryukaku for each particular string). O.R. is 'o ryukaku', perhaps 2/8 of the
length. Besides notated directions, the performer is free to adjust playing
position at will. N.R. will make the sound weaker by softening the fundamental,
O.R. will produce more fundamental and less overtones, a 'fat,' rounded, and
warm timbre at the expense of some characteristic colors of the koto sound.

The downward-pointing arrowhead denotes sukizume upstrokes as opposed to

the nger in question's typical downstroke. The upright-pointing arrow is
kozume, a scraping icked upstroke. Sukizume upstrokes are therefore implied
when you see the kozume symbol.

Only arpeggiate when the line to do so appears, otherwise play multi-stops

simultaneously with several ngers at once rather than just sweeping with one.

Part 1: The Five Lakes

1. Purple of Lake Motosu

constant gradual acceleration of tempo throughout

do not accelerate when the moon is out (you may
decelerate during night sections)

q = 40

Twilight

17 string Koto

? ## 49

? ##

Dawn

n
p

n J

sfp

sfp

mf

? ## n

j


> > > >
3

ma rest

Connor Helms

j


> > > > > >
3

mp

J
J
sfp

mf

sfp

mf

J
move bridge 15 from C# to C

mf

sfp

mf

sfp

mf

mp

repeat gure
ad innitum

? ## n n n
J

J
J

J
J
J

string 1,8,15 to C#

repeat gure
ad innitum

? ## # #

J
#

J
string 1,8,15 to C

sfp

mf

sfp

mf

sfp

mf

? ##

mp

repeat gure
ad innitum

? ## n n

J
n
J

J
string 8,15 to C#

repeat gure
ad innitum

? ##

J
J
J
J
J

string 8,15 to C

Copyright 2012 Connor Helms

repeat gure
ad innitum 5

? ## n n

J
n

J
string 1,8,15 to C#

sfp

q = 50

10

? ## #

Noon

mf

? ##

11

A Tempo

>
? ##

12

? ##

13

>

>

? ##

16

? ##

sfp

>

cresc.

mp

mf

mp

mf

mp

>

mf

pp

mp

15

? ## j

mf

mf

mp

14

accel.

mp

sfp

oshiawase
string 12

mf

mf

3
accel.

rit.

accel.

rit.

A Tempo q = 58
accel.

rit.

mp

mf

accel.

rit.

? ##

17

accel.

rit.

accel.

rit.

>

mf mp cresc.

q = 60

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18

Dusk

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20

21

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22

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24

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25

q = 70

? ##

26

do not acceclerate anymore (you may wish to decelerate)

Night

mp

repeat gure
ad innitum 7

? ##

J
string 5,12 to G#

27

repeat gure
ad innitum

? ## #
J

J
J

J
J

string 12 to G

28

? ## n

29

sfp

mf

sfp

mf

sfp

mf

repeat gure
ad innitum

? ##

J
J
J
J

30

? ##

31

>

2. Lake Saiko, Sea of Trees

1

q = 45

? ##

Twilight

pp

? ## 3

mp

mf

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mf

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mp

mf

mp

mp

mp

sempre

mf

mp

mp

mf

mf

mp

mf

mf

mp

mf

mp

mp

3
3
3
3c
3
3 c
3
c
c
3
3 c
5

? ##

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
mp
mf c
3
3

c
c
3

? ##

snap pizz.
left hand
mp
? ##

mf

? ##

>

mf

mp

mp

mp

? ##
n
>

#
>

q = 55

? ##

Noon

gliss.

? ##

12

? ##

j
? ##
#

13

gliss.

gliss.

gliss.

mf

oshide

#
pp

mp

#
f

mp

mf

#
#>

#
#>

gliss.

#>

pp

mp

gliss.

gliss.

mf

mf

pp

mp

>

>

gliss.
gliss.
n
#
>slide string 1 to C >slide string 1 to C#
>

c c

mp

>

touch node with right

pinky or ring (or palm)

11

mf

mf

10

O
gliss.

? ##

14

15

? ##

mp

16

? ## j

? ## j

17

? ## j

18

3
c
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J
3

19

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21

22

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g lis

.
g lis s

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s.

.
g lis s

.
g lis s

gliss.

ss.
g li

.
g lis s

s.
g lis

sempre

mp

mf

3
3

3
3 c
c
3
3
c
3 c

J J

q = 75

? ## 3

Night

20

f
slap strings
with left palm

>

>

mf

q = 65

Dusk

3
3
3
3c
3
3 c
3
c
c
3
3 c
23
c

? ##

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
mp
mf c
3
3

c
c

10

>

>

3
3
c
3
3
3
c
24
3
3 c
>
c

? ##

3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
mp
mf c
3
3

c
c

>

? ##

>

25

? ##

Twilight

? ##

O
J

mp

? ##

A Tempo q = 53

mp

rit.

mf

mf

accel.

rit.

accel.

rit.

O
J

mp

accel.

mf

? ##

mp

Dawn

mp

? ##

3. Lava in Lake Shoji

mp

>

q = 50
1

>

? ##

mp

11

mf

fp

? ##

accel.

mf

? ##

>

A Tempo q = 57

mp

? ##

mf

q = 60

? ##

10

Noon

accel.

>

mp

#
? ##

11

slide string 5,12 to G#

switch to right hand asap to move string 12 bridge to G#

with left hand, simply play F# in right hand until done,
then move on

? ## #

12

? ## #
#

13

? ##
#

14

12

? ## #

15

? ## #

16

? ## #

#

17

q = 70

O O O O

? ##

Dusk

18

O
#O

O
? ##

19

20

? ##

#O

move string 5,12 to G

? ## # n

21

accel.
q = 75
22

? ##

n



p
f
Night

4. Island of Lake Kawaguchi

1

? ##

q = 55

Twilight

Dawn

5
5

J
.

5
5
5

? ##
. .3 .

5 5


. .3 .

5 5
5


. .3 .

5 5

(try to cut short with

palm or forearm)

mp

5
5

. .3 .

j
b

uchizume
p

voix cleste: E-E, A-A

5
5

sempre
? ## (P.O.)
N.R.

(P.O.)
O.R.

O.R.

. . .
. . .
.J 3

13

5
5


.
3

5
5


.
3

5 5
5
5


3

5 5
5 5
5 5
5 5
5 5
5
5

? ##

J
J
J
J
J
> 3
> 3
> 3
3
3
3

55

5 5

5 5
55

mf

3
3
3
3
3
5
5 5
5

? ##

pp

mp

5
5
5
? ##

. .3 .

5
5

. .3 .

5
7

? ##

mp

mf

5
5


3

5 5
5


.J 3
5

mp

5 5
5 5
5 5
5

? ##

5
5

. .3 .

5
5
5


3
.
3

mp

5
5

J
.

mp

5
5
5

. .3 .
3

5
5
mp

.
3

5
5

5
5
5 5
5
5


3

5 5

mf

55

55

5 5

mf

3
3
14
3
3
5
5
5 3
9
? ##

pp

mp

q = 65

accel.

mf

A Tempo
q = 66

3
j

? ##

10

? ##

mp

12

? ##

13

? ##

11

? ##

j
J

15

mp

16

? ##

17

? ##

string 5, 12 to G#
3

14

? ##

Noon

j
J

nat: 6, 13
3

3



3
3
3

3

repeat as needed

q = 75

3
3
#
? ##
j

18

Dusk
f

mf

15

3
3
j

? ## 3

r
r

#
j

3
3

19

3
3
3
3
3
#

? ## j

20

? ##

21

? ## #

22

# 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3

? ##

23

? ## #

3
3
3
3
3
3

24

rit.

repeat til
done

voix cleste: A to A

string 5,12 to G#
3

? ##

25

q = 85

16 Night mf

? ## n
n

26

J

3

mp

? ##

3
3
.
3
3
3
mf

27

mp

3
3
.
3

mp

mf

mf

? ##

28

rit.
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3
3

29

? ##

R
3
mf

pp

mp

? ##

>
f

All bridges back to default tuning

q = 60

? ##

mf

? ##

5. Lake Yamanaka the Prodigious

Twilight

30

(pre-bend string 13)

wavy glissando
behind the ryukaku

O.R.

pp

>
3
? ##
O.R.

pp

Dawn mp

pp

>
? ##

_ { _
p

mfp

mp

{ _

{ _

pp

{ mp N.R.
5

>

mf

>

pp

mf

mf

index and middle nger

rapid/successive uchizume

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

surizume; drag all

the way across, slowly
at rst, but exponentially
getting faster

N.R.

>

? ##

p
mf rubato ad libitum

mp

? ##

? ##

mp

? ##
J

? ##

10

? ##

Noon

mf

? ##

mp

j
J

? ## j

13

q = 70

11

12

mf

? ##

mf

pp

mp

17
keshizume

18

? ##

14

15

? ##

mf

16

? ##

17

mf

? ##

j
J

mp

mp

? ##

18

mp

q = 80

? ##

19

Dusk

mf

? ##

20

21

? ##

22

? ##

19
j
j
j

? ##

23

mf

? ##

24

? ##

25

j
? ##

26

? ##

27

? ##

29

q = 90

? ##

Night

30

? ##

31

? ##

28

2
4

Part 2:
Climbing the Mountain

20

q = 30
accel.

A Tempo

? ## 42

>
uchikaki

? ##

OO OOO
O

O OO OO

? ##

? ##

OO OOO
O

? ##

17

mp

21

? ##

? ##

mp

25

O OO OO

mp

>

#
? ##
#

#
#
>

J
3

#
>

>q = 344

string 5, 12 to G#

29

behind bridges

muted

>

>

N.R.

A Tempo

13

muted

rit.

O OO OOO

#
#
>

>

q = 120

? ##

? ## #

39

43

47

? ##

51

? ##

q =80

q =80

q =120

? ##

59

q =120

mp

? ##


R
J.
>
>.

mp
>.

? ##

r
j

67

? ##

>
>

71

mf

string 5,12 to G

>

.
.

J
R

>.
>.

>.

mf

63

molto rit.
q =80

q = 40

? ##

55

21

r
j

22

? ##

? ##

75

79

? ##

83

? ##

87

? ##

91

? ##

95

? ##

99

rit.

accel.

rit.

accel.

mf

mp

rit.

? ##

103

? ##

>

A Tempo

q = 344

107

Ouse right
O hand only
O
mp

#
>

#>

113

accel.

rit.

string 5, 12 to G#

A Tempo

mp

accel.

mf

mp

mf

114

? ##

>

120

? ##

q = 120

117

right hand mezzoforte throughout

23

mf

fp

124

? ##

? ##

132

? ##

? ##

154

? ##
? ##

158

138

#
#

mf

string 5, 12 to G

133

? ##
#

148

fp

#
#

? ##

144

128

140

#
#

#
#

24

q = 45

159

? ##

mf

? ##

163

167

? ##

? ##

? ##

179

? ##

>

? ##

? ##

>

>

>

>

rubato

N.R.

mp

behind bridges

>

.
muted

O OO OO

mp

q = 110

mp

>

183

187

muted

OO OOO
O

q = 86

O OO OOO
O
O
O O O .

175

171

O OOO
O
O

>

191

? ##

195

? ##

199

? ##

? ##

? ##

Coda 3

>
p
q = 130

mp rubato

mp

203

207

25

freely switch both hands from N.R. to O.R. at will

dim. and cresc. in left hand only

? ##

211

mp

? ##

? ##

? ##

215

219

223

mp

sempre

26

? ##

? ##

227

231

235

? ##
3

>
? ##

247

? ##

251

? ##

>

? ##

243

239

>

molto rit.

rit.

>