noun
hichiriki; small double-reed wind instrument used in gagaku
A traditional Japanese double-reed instrument made of bamboo, with seven finger holes on the front and two on the back. It is a key melodic instrument in gagaku (court music).
See also: 雅楽 (ががく)
雅楽では、篳篥が主旋律を担当することが多い。
In gagaku, the hichiriki often carries the main melody.
篳篥の音色は、哀愁を帯びた独特な響きがある。
The tone of the hichiriki has a distinctive, plaintive quality.
The word ひちりき is thought to derive from the Chinese name for a similar instrument, though the exact derivation is uncertain. The kanji 篳篥 are used phonetically to represent the name.