The Music and Musical Instruments of Japan

 

1) Public-domain, free downloads (PDF originals)

  • F. T. Piggott, The Music and Musical Instruments of Japan (1893/1909)
    Early Western-staff transcriptions and examples for shamisen genres (useful background for jōruri–related styles). Full PD scans available. survivorlibrary.com+2Internet Archive+2

Note: Complete Western-staff scores of gidayū-bushi (jōruri proper) in the public domain are effectively nonexistent; most early sources provide excerpted examples only. JSTOR

2) Free MIDI / free scores (license varies; check each page)

  • mu-tech.org (traditional Japanese songs/genres)
    Per-piece pages offering printable scores and MIDI files (includes nagauta/folk items; good for study or arranging). Rights are case-by-case—verify page notices. Mu-Tech

3) If a full Western-staff score is required and no PD/free source exists → purchase

  • William P. Malm, Nagauta: The Heart of Kabuki Music
    Authoritative study with complete Western-staff scores for select nagauta works—closest practical reference among shamisen “song” genres. Available on Amazon (hardcover/reprints/Kindle). Amazon+3Amazon+3Amazon+3

4) Scholarly articles with partial transcriptions (for formulas/styles)

  • Studies on gidayū/kiyomoto often include short Western-staff transcriptions (melodic formulas, phrase outlines). Use as analytical references rather than full performance scores. ResearchGate+2ResearchGate+2

5) Why complete Western-staff scores are rare for jōruri

  • No standardized native notation for gidayū-bushi historically; transmission has been oral/ mnemonic, which complicates full Western-staff scoring efforts. JSTOR+1

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